DAMlog: Thoughts on Creativity

Minor Burst of Clarity

2012-01-18T10:48:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I listen to other people talk about their music and see the freedom they have to accomplish what they want and I wonder why I haven't attained that. Supposedly it all comes down to a lack of money. But that's just the cover story. Really it comes down to fear of self-destruction and doubt. I'm capable but sometimes so unwilling to break with personal tradition to explore.

That's the pinnacle of why and how I have not reached personal goals or completed ideas. This inundation of distractions and worries leaves me staring blankly at my instruments wondering what in the hell I've been doing all my life. Spiraling ever further outward from the heart of my creativity and inspiration. Sometimes the wandering leads me through a patch of ideas and I create. Then, like so many foggy mornings, it burns off and fades. Too fast.

So this year, fresh and new, will be a deciding year. A gathering of courage and naivete strapped around me like protective padding to set off in a new direction, physically and creatively. I don't know where or what will come of it. But a change is needed. Realign my stars and let them lead me off into my music.

Post-Phoned: A New Year

2012-01-14T20:07:00.001-05:00

My first show of 2012 was friday night. A few hours of new bands (to me) and a handful of wonderful people who came to see me. I attempted to play the new tracks but between the ones i couldn't remember and the ones I figured were too mellow for a night like that, i only played a couple songs from the record. I ended up playing my fall-back songs. Those are the go-to material when i can't think of anything else off the top of my head. Still, it didn't matter what i played. i haven't been on a stage for months.

Here we are now, half of January already gone. I'm trying to figure out how this year will play out. There are half a dozen thing to work on and it's been getting harder and harder to approach it all one thing at a time. Especially when the recording has taken months more than anticipated. I know I'll figure everything out and make it work no matter what but right now its quite a mountain I'm staring up at.

Good news is, some clarity and focus has been returning and some distractions are starting to peel away to wait in the wings. The artwork for the cd is, far as i can see, finished. And once the last tracks are down in digital and the music is being mixed and mastered, I can turn my attention to the rewards for you Kickstarter peoples and the merch that I've been neglecting.

...well this has been another rambling update. More of the same but inching ever nearer the goal. I haven't forgotten about the next DAMcast! I'll let you know soon as a date is decided.

Goodnight yous guys,
--dam

The end is near!

2012-01-09T13:17:00.003-05:00

Not only are we supposed to nearing the end of the world again, (for the umpteenth time,) I'm also almost done with the record. It's been a painful year after the success of the KickStarter campaign. I never thought it would work. I still can't believe I was able to crowd-source a record with the throngs of artists, film-makers, music-makers, hobbyists and entrepreneurs out there all doing the same.

But I had a small moment of clarity a little while back. We are 7 billion humans and counting on this planet. There are probably 20 million men and woman of all ages trying to do exactly what I am. It is not unique as an idea. It hasn't been unique for 1000 years. Getting paid to make music. In that respect, we who are still mad enough to follow the muses have to rely on telling our own version of life. It is unique through my eyes and words and melodies and I won't stop simply because 2 million other guys named Dave have written about it, too.

Within that funk of existential perturbance, I also had some rather dark stuff to deal with that kept me locked away in my room distracting myself with anything other than music. Honestly, the last few years haven't been the easiest. IT's all melted together into one jumbled mess of memories, some of which are best left forgotten. But who doesn't deal with painful, life-altering experiences? It's part of being human. It's the path through the spooky forests and the shadowed back alleys that shapes what we do on the other end.

So I'm not going to say the process of making this record was a joy. I'm not going to say I've been in love with the project the whole time. I was ready to drop the whole thing and start giving money back for a stretch. Then I sat down and listened - REALLY listened - to what I'd been putting down on digital (with Zack dragging me through the sessions) and I found a tiny ember of the fire that started this whole thing.

Winter 2010 I decided to make a single. That single turned into recording three songs. Then I thought, what the hell, let's go for the whole enchilada. I researched many alternatives and settled on asking any and all for the help. The rest you know - KickStarter yadda yadda, DAMcast!, goal reached. Then, blam! There I was with cash in my bank account and a LONG list of songs to work on.

And from about May 5th until now it's been a struggle on my hands and knees; trial by fire. You can't know something unless you learn it. I couldn't know whether or not I could follow through without going for it. So, yes. I am going to finish this record and you are going to have a copy in your hands. It's not going to be my Chinese Democracy.

If you're still reading, you are a champ and you win a fruit smoothie...a virtual one. Ok just a conceptual one. ...ok the smoothie was a lie.

See you Friday the 13th at The Raven. (follow link for details.) Facebook (Bandsintown) Event

Here's to life and pursuit of fruit smoothies,

--dam

Album Update, DAMcast Plans

2011-12-15T00:18:00.000-05:00

Tonight I popped in to Zack's studio space to record vocals for one of the new songs no one's heard yet called "Sing Your Name." It's a callback to all the jazz and standards I heard as a kid. If you've ever heard me sing more than a song or two, you've probably heard the influence in there. The heavy dose of slides between notes. The lazy-sounding rhythms. The little flairs of grace-notes. And so on. I wrote the lyrics and left them to simmer for a long time until I got to the studio to recording the scratch takes and realized I didn't have any music for this song I wanted to include. So I sat down and mashed a classical piano progression with jazz melody I'd had in mind. The result was completely different from the original concept and left me excited about featuring my long-lost piano skills FINALLY.

With this song finished, I now have 5 complete tracks that are ready to be mastered. The rest are awaiting violin or trumpet or vocals or a re-re-recording of the guitars. But the fact is, it's so close I can actually see the sign in the distance that says "End Construction" ... But there's still a long road after that to walk down.

Someone suggested another DAMcast to round out the year and give people a "face-to-web" update of the whole project. So I'm working on that. It may not be til January but regardless of the date, there will be another web-party to attend from the comfort of your browser of choice. Once I get an ensemble together to back me for cd release shows, I might do a DAMcast to give a preview of the album and shows to the Kickstarter Backers. OR a listening party broadcast online (again, for the Backers only.) LOTS to plan. You'll hear what's going to happen soon as it starts to make more sense.

Please keep me in your positive thoughts/prayers/whatever you want to call them that I can get through this without any more stumbling blocks and sandtraps. Thank you, friends.

--dam

Giving Thanks: Super Special Teaser!

2011-11-24T12:31:00.001-05:00

I've been sitting here all morning wondering what I could do to show my gratitude for all the support you guys gave me this year, (fans, friends, family, loved ones, and on and on.) I decided to share a teaser from one of my favorite tracks I've been working on. This is an unfinished recording and all those standard disclaimers, but I think it still shines. I know you'll dig it. It's a new song called "Here, Now" and it will definitely be on this album that YOU helped make.

Happy Merry to you all.
Now. Listen!
"Here, Now" Teaser

--dam

p.s. -Beard Update: He's doing just fine, folks. All grown up and prickly as...beard.

Bringing Back the Beard

2011-11-09T10:04:00.003-05:00

It's a Wednesday morning. I'm writing before I head off to work in hopes of keeping my mind focused on the music all day. Unfortunately, since the last time I wrote, it has been much more of the same. Long sleepless nights. Clouded, half-aware days. Not enough music. The good news is that a lot of the recording IS done. There are a few things to do still but it's coming together. Zack has done some wild work translating my rough explanations of what I want into realized ideas. A mountain of props to the production wizard.

Since my birthday, I've spent most of my time either at the day job or parked in front of the computer. Addicted to YouTube and searching for some kind of inspiration to finish the job I started so I can return to performing. There's much left to do and so little fuel in the tank. But If I've learned anything from experience it's that I have to see my depression/down-time/non-productivity/distraction to it's end. I have to grind it down until I reach the fire beneath it again. There are still some red hot coals down there below all the wasted days that have piled up over the desire to create. Let's hope I get some oxygen to the flame before I lose all interest in anything creative.

When the things I love are no longer fun for me, I DO have to step back and let it sort of reboot. Leave it alone for a while and it will start to be beautiful and inspiring again. Last night I played a guitar for the first time in at least a month. It was something akin to seeing sunlight for the first time in years. Deeply satisfying and so very needed. The Spring and Summer disappeared in a haze and as Autumn breezes by as well, I am feeling the urge to make everything happen as I'd planned.

My hair is long. The beard is back. But I feel like I just got a spiffy new haircut - Confident. (It's a rarity, I assure you.) Let's see how long I can stretch the life of this little ember of inspiration. More importantly, what I can accomplish with it.

--dam

See You In September

2011-09-14T12:24:00.000-04:00

Here we are in September, kids. Yeah. Seriously. When did that happen? I've been in a nearly-catatonic state for a few weeks as a new batch of insomnia has settled in and taken over my nights. The result? I complete inability to function like a normal human. It's made me sick a couple times and kept me in my room more often than not. I'm one month in to this and, well, I'm sick of it.

I did manage to make it through the Open Road Festival last Saturday, though. It was a beautiful day for it. The ground was soggy but the sky was clear. I got to hear a whole mess of bands I've heard of but never saw perform. An impressive bunch! Gamble & Burke and Herra Terra stood out with highly polished sounds that are rare in the Worcester scene. But when you're dealing with electronic-heavy music, you have to be tight and precise to pull it off.

I play two 20 minute sets in the burning sun and realized afterward how exhausted I was. I was falling asleep driving home and this was at 5:30. Not even the night yet! Makes me feel old and worn. Fitting as I shuffle up to another new year on this planet. But as tired as I was (am) I still had a great time people watching and checking out all the vendors that came out this year. I'm happy I got to be a part of the festival in it's first two years. Who knows what it will be like in 5 years time.

---

Looking back at the last month I realized that I haven't done much of anything productive since Irene blew through New England. A week before was when I started having issues sleeping again. (This is an old enemy.) I haven't written. I haven't recorded. I haven't even been able to concentrate on listening to the recordings. It's beyond frustrating and I'm trying to get back on track. There's always stumbling blocks. Couple that with family stuff, day job, and all the other "real" life matters and you really get the picture.

Am I making excuses? Probably. But they are valid nonetheless. I'm just as anxious to finish this record and get it out to the world as many of you are to hear the fruits of the effort. Good things are worth waiting for, they say, and I think this is going to be a real treat for those of you who've only ever heard me as a solo performer.

But please, please, please, keep sending me your positive energy. The universe seems to be denying me my normal allotment so I need to borrow some of yours! Either way, I'll see this album finished if it kills me.

--dam

(This song came to mind...Because it's September.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgCt-F22Ex0)

Update from Studioland

2011-08-25T23:44:00.001-04:00

"If love was..."

That's the album title. That's the song that started this whole thing. At first it was a single. Then it turned into an EP. Then, I found Kickstarter and the rest is very recent history. Within a matter of 5 months this thing became a fully realized album.

Right now, after some estimated guessification, I'd say I'm about 70% finished with the actual recording. After, there's mixing and mastering. Everything costs money. But it's getting done. Even if, so far I am officially over budget. (Thanks to changing locations, equipment, and entire game-plan for recording this record!) I spent a couple hundred upgrading my computer with the intention of using it to record and mix everything myself.

That all changed and here we are months longer than expected. BUT... We've got this Amazing set of songs begging to be shared with the world. So, with Zack's help. This will be a beautifully crafted and performed album that i will be proud to share and even sell!

As soon as i have final mixes i will let the Kickstarter Backers get their from mp3 from the album in advance, as promised! So much happening so soon! See you around the internet, kids.

--dam

Peyote Radio Theatre - Jeff Buckley Tribute

2011-08-23T00:00:00.000-04:00

So here's the skinny on the last week of mad-dash, non-stop music. Whether in the studio with my tunes, rehearsing Buckley's songs with the tribute, or at work making sandwiches and shamelessly promoting the music to the public, (yeah I use my day job as a band stand,) I have been flat out running insane.

I haven't had much sleep, food, or time to process it all...
...Right about there is where I passed out. I figured, I'd wait and pick up when I had the time. So...Where was I? Ah yes. Tired. Shocker, I know. But it was such a great week. Having something to work on or work toward is always invigorating. And the progress on the album, even if it's just conceptualizing the few songs that are left to be recorded, has been fantastic. There's going to be a smattering of violin solo's and hopefully one or two sexy electric guitar solos.

Getting back to the Buckley tribute, we had two really fantastic rehearsals where we were all shocked to find how well we remember the songs. As usual, I was a nervous wreck last weekend trying to cram riffs into my brain again and making chords more difficult than they need to be. Now, had I remembered to, I would have set up my digital recorder and gotten the second rehearsal on wax, so to speak, but I was too pumped to get into playing the tunes to remember. The same goes for the show. Luckily, several people at the show pulled out their cameras and took photos and videos which are up on YouTube. (Links/Embeds below)

For an off week in the middle of summer where parents are hustling to get kids ready for school, older kids are getting ready for college, and non-parent-adult-types are hot and lethargic, it was a decent crowd. Going by the door count, I know there were 15 people there to see me plus a pile of others for the other bands (Tangents, Transient). And as I played my solo opening set the room filled up with about 50 more people. By the time we got the Peyote Radio Theatre set, people were well lubricated and ready to have their minds melted just a little more by the transcendent wonderment that is Jeff's music. No I'm not being facetious. This music really does transport people out of the daily bull and into their own heads, where they usually don't hang out much.

Despite a couple flubs on my part and some technical difficulties with gear I was trying out, we had an awesome set with a lot of moments of massive, heart-pounding energy that had me looking around the stage to be sure I was really there taking part in making that beautiful music come alive. I just hope that somewhere Jeff was nodding his head in approval, sipping red wine and getting ready to tell us all the good reasons why we should stop holding him up on a pedestal.

There is good news for those who missed the show, though! We are trying to book at least one more area show before the end of the year. So, if you haven't, head over to Facebook and like the fan page for the tribute to get the updates and invites to the shows!

That's all for now. Thanks guys and gals for all the support.

Here's the videos and all the links mentioned:

Peyote Radio Theatre: https://www.facebook.com/buckleytribute
My YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheKidDAM

"What Will You Say"

"So Real"

Double Negative: I ain't got no PA!

2011-08-12T17:05:00.000-04:00

Double Negative win, right? hyuck hyuck...

Yesterday was another banner day. A big ol' 300 foot banner waving high over the street on the top of a parade float that said "Yeah! It Could've Sucked!" And, of course, a 250 piece marching band playing some sort of pomp and or circumstancial epic theme. ...But I digest...or whatever...

I decided to not take the day off from work yesterday and just hoped to heck that I had enough juice left in the power cells to make it the whole day without dying. I found out half way through the day that I had the start-time for the show wrong. So after a couple quick text messages and frantic phone calls, I had my information straight and the madness began. No PA* system.

*For those that don't know or never cared to know, PA stands for Public Address.

I scarfed down my breakfast/lunch/dinner while packing up gear, updating people online about the time change, and trying to put clothes on while still soggy from a 3 minute shower. At this point I was ready for bed, but I scurried out the door packed to the (non-existant)gils with guitars and various necessities. I stopped at Guitar Center on the way (thank the gods it IS on the way), prepared to buy a PA and solve this once and for all. I knew what I was after so it take long. I walked out less than 15 minutes later with a Harbinger HA60 PA system and a quality microphone (Sennheiser Evolution 8something or other...it's in a box right now packed up.)

So with new gear still in the boxes and packages, I got to JJ's with barely enough time to set up on the open-air deck and attempt to settle down. Luckily, it's a dummy-proof system and I was sound-checked and playing music by 7:01. With my brains melting out my ears by the end of the three hour show, I was pretty much winging it the entire night. Toward the end, a young woman even came up to shouted out a request for some Tenacious D. She knew the words, so I let her sing it while I tried to remember figure out how the song goes as we went along.

Half of my set list I pulled from memory while trying to read the printed lyrics (font size 14) in the dimming daylight as they fluttered in the breeze. I really enjoy this kind of performance. Mixing in my songs among some of the most unlikely covers and halfhearted goofy renditions of awful pop songs. It's really the only way I'd ever play a lot of these songs and it's teaching me new flexibility and skills you need on stage.

At the end of the night, Chris, (the guy that booked the show,) came up to me to tell me not only was he blown away that I bought a PA just for this show, but he relayed it to the bar's owner and he said "He did WHAT?!" I guess I don't think about these things. It was a necessity to perform. A no-brainer in my book. If you need it and people are expecting a certain thing, give them what they are looking for as best you can. But Chris not only helped me unpack everything straight from the boxes at my car to the stage. He stayed the whole night and helped me reload the car. We talked music and life afterward and it was clear that I've got to keep working with him. Such a great guy.

Next week is the Buckley Tribute show and in standard form, I'm freaking out. My wrists are screaming at me, sore and feeling swollen inside. Jeff's tunes aren't exactly easy on the hands either, so I'm worrying about being able to even practice the songs, nevermind the show itself. The curse of a musician. Carpal Tunnel Disfuctionality! Hopefully nothing but more good comes from the days ahead. 2 jam-packed rehearsals with the guys and one crazy performance. For now, I'm going to attempt to run through the songs I remember how to play and see where that puts me.

Drinks all around!
--dam

The Jukebox Interview! July.17.2011

2011-08-09T01:14:00.001-04:00

I couldn't get this post to work initially but here it is. Enjoy...

Interviewer: Courtney Dyson (Jukebox Editor)

Live at The Q Cafe

What made you want to get into music?

Like most people, I was raised with a wide variety of musical input. I tried all kinds of other artistic things but it always came back to music. I was singing along to all kinds of stuff before I could form full sentences. Jazz, Classical, Pop-Rock, Musicals, Gospel, and tons of oldies and top 40 radio. My mom sang and my dad played piano for church. Some time around 6 years old I got a little Casio keyboard and that started a long journey into making music. Then, when I was about 13 it really hit me that I wanted to pursue music more seriously. I focused on composition, playing every day for the next couple years and wrote dozens of really ambitious instrumentals.

How would you describe your sound?
I get all kinds of input on who or what I sound like. But I’d say I’ve got sort of a throwback sound to singer/songwriters from the 60s & 70s with a really healthy chunk of the 90s alt-rock in there. I’ve heard so many comparisons. But as for the music itself, there’s a wide range of emotions when I perform. Sometimes people tell me they were crying during one song and smiling and dancing the next. I try to make people see themselves differently and be better for it in the end.

Can you tell us more about your newest album Smile for the Camera?
My latest release is actually a really fun and spontaneous project that sprung up recently. It’s a bootleg internet-only collection of releases. I started doing a semi-regular web performance I call “DAMcast!” Since it’s a webcast, there’s all kinds of freedom to play and have fun chatting with fans and friends. It gives me a chance to share songs of mine that I don’t play very often or cover songs I’ve always wanted to play. “Smile for the Camera” is Volume 2 in this series with plenty more to come, so long as the internet doesn’t get destroyed with the rest of the world in 2012.

Are you working on any new music?
I’ve been recording my first proper studio album for about a month now. I’m working with a friend and fellow musician when there’s time between day job and all the work behind the scenes that comes with being an independent artist. This album will have a bunch of tracks no one’s heard yet. It’s the culmination of a year or more of writing and challenging myself to keep taking that next step toward making the dream a reality. The whole recording project is funded by the fans thanks to Kickstarter.com and 53 amazing people from all over the place! Check out this link to find out more. I could go on about it for hours! —> http://kck.st/g8rD4F

Who are some of your musical influences?
A short list would definitely include Damien Rice, Jeff Buckley, Incubus, Days of The New, Silverchair, Glen Hansard (The Frames/Swell Season), Collective Soul, VAST, and a New England band I’ve listened to since I was a kid - Mighty Purple…to name a handful. Beyond that, I listen to tons of music. As Tall As Lions, Mumford & Sons, The Low Anthem (a Rhode Island band that’s blowing up right now,) Porcupine Tree, Edward Sharpe, Franz Ferdinand, The Arcade Fire, Queens of the Stone Age, Muse….and on and on….

Where does the inspiration for your music come from?
Just being alive right now in this world is inspiration enough to create. There’s so much at our fingertips; so much information and music and people to learn from. But even then it comes down to basic human things: Love, Friendships and Relationships, Loss, Hope, and always questioning what’s in front of me. Sometimes current politics sneak in and current events, like natural disasters, wars, miracles, and so on. And other times, I simply have no idea where the inspiration comes from.

What’s the biggest struggle as an upcoming artist?
Beside the fact that everyone and their cousin’s cousin has a band? haha. Seriously, there are SO MANY performers out there! But I guess, for me, finding the energy to do everything myself is a huge struggle. It’s a blessing and a curse to be an independent performer/artist. Yes, you have complete control over your path and goals, but you have to be willing to take charge and do the work to promote yourself! Like they say, “You get back what you put in.” Even with all the tools available to me right here in my computer, it can be overwhelming and exhausting. I designed and built my own website. I do my own artwork for albums, posters, and fliers. In the past I’ve recorded, edited, printed and packaged my own CDs. I contact press and blogs (like The Jukebox!) I do all this grunt work to make sure my presence is seen, heard, and felt. Jumping into the music industry as it stands today is extremely hard work as a one man army. I’m actually at the tipping point where I’m starting to seek out help from fans and friends.

Do you have any shows coming up?
I have just a handful of dates booked right now since I’m working on the album. The big one I’m excited for is a local festival (Open Road Music & Arts Festival) in Worcester, MA on September 10. It’s the city’s “first sustainable and earth-friendly music and arts festival” which supports and promotes many local musicians, artists, vendors. It’s a one day event but it’s going to be jam packed with performances. You’ll always find shows listed on my website (davemagario.com)

Is there anything else that we should be on the lookout for within the next year?
Yes! The album I’m working on called “If love was…” will hopefully be finished and available to the world by the end of the summer or early fall. There will be a tour to support the album which will hopefully take me around the country straight into next year. There will also be more in the DAMcast! series of webcasts and bootleg albums.

Thanks for your time! Is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?
Well… My fans know I love them. Most of them are friends, too. They treat me better than I deserve and love my music more than I can understand. Thank you, you crazy gang of awesomeness. And to any of you who don’t know me or my music: Don’t be afraid to try something new. Who knows. We might meet one day. All because of Music!

Mobile musings

2011-08-08T20:02:00.000-04:00

There are some shows coming up and I am trying (and failing) to prepare for them. One show, a three hour bar gig, has me flounderng for cover songs that not only the crowd likes but that I like as well. And every song I come up with is a downer even if it does rock pretty hard. I suppose I should suck it up and play some things I don't necessarily love.

Then, in a week I have the Peyote Radio Theatre show. That is the Jeff Buckley tribute project I am fronting. I have to refresh my muscle memory as far as playing the songs goes, plus add a new one to the list. For those who know his music, Jeff was a pain in the ass when it comes to guitar arrangements. He was a pro; practiced daily, and he could play anything you asked for. Now, I may not be awful on a guitar but his songs test all my limitations as a guitarist. Thankfully, I have a real guitarist playing the meatier portions of the tunes. But still...you want to do justice to the arrangement, the ideas, and the man himself.

Beyond that, there's still the album to worry about. So much left to do and so little time to work with. Its like trying to build a house in your spare time. I feel like I am 60% done tracking but who knows really. I keep going back and redoing parts. Starting from scratch with a few others. (Here my dad interjects with a crossword puzzle question that stumped him: Smallville's most famous resident's birthname. ...seriously dad! Come on! Kalel, dude! Maaaaan!...)

The process can be frustrating but ultimately I know I will have something I am proud of and excited to share. The tracks that are done are so great I want to share them now but that would ruin the mysterious surprise that is this record.

Ok. A little venting of passing thoughts has done me good. I'm listening to a playlist of the set for the Buckley show and puttng myself at ease about the next couple weeks. I will make it through. I always do.
Ooh! I forgot I have an ep to listen to! Grey Milk's "Nocturnal"
--dam
www.facebook.com/buckleytribute

Failures are Fertilizer

2011-08-04T16:47:00.001-04:00

Another week's gone by and I've been pondering some massive retro/intro-spective-type things. Wondering how the heck I wound up doing what I do. The choices and steps I took. I can't EVER say "I went for it and I never looked back." Anyone that says that is probably lying. We always find time to worry about some varied "what if's" and "coulda shoulda woulda's." But more and more over the last couple years I've found that if I'm not at least dipping into the projects and the art and the music and all these things I love to do, I'm not going to be happy with existing.

There's so many things I could have gone to a university for and pursued and maybe even been successful at doing. Hell, there's still time for all that! People change careers after 15 or 20 years, go back to school and start again before they retire (if they ever do.) I've been doing this music thing with serious, pointed intent for about 10 years. I've been doing this solo act for 3 of those years. I've already created a neat little mountain of songs I've written and recorded. I've been writing since I was 12 and I've probably forgotten more stupid, silly, and trite songs written for piano than I have written for guitar. So I've probably churned out 300 songs over the last 15 years. So much to be proud of. So much to shovel under the carpet and leave behind. But it was all what I wanted at the time. I haven't denied myself the opportunity to fail.

And here I am pushing 27 years old. I love what I do. I live for it, even if I'm not crafting something every day ...even though I should be. (That's another blog for another time). What I do might not always be music, but I'm always going to try to make it work for me. I know for a fact I can make a living making music. It's not the superstar echelon. It's not even near famous. It's that level where you can pay the bills and eat too. Second rung of the Success Ladder. Somewhere in there. I'm not quite there yet, but it is attainable; it's within reach. If I could actually put all my focus and energy into these creative things, I'd definitely be paying the bills. But I haven't quit the day job. Yet.

I'm inspired by unusual people doing outsider things. Things that may not be popular or acceptable, but it still works for them and they are proud to work hard for what they love. Seeing my friends and fellow artists all around me cranking out performances and recordings and gallery shows and writing books....It's enough make me step back and ask "What's my voice in all this?" and "What do I have to say that contributes to the pool of art and noise and feedback?" I see some of them doing nothing but what they love. They've left the day jobs and poured everything into that one thing. Not many people can do it and survive the ride.

As for me, like I said, I'm still holding a day job. Respectable, but not the dream. I am constantly evaluating and critiquing in as much as my own work and creations. It's sometimes a huge pitfall in my creative process and in my personal life. It certainly slows me down a LOT and it's something I'm working on. But it also affords me perspective, healthy and balanced, when the time comes to try wading into uncharted territory. And that new territory, I think, will be the move into full-time creativity; putting food in my stomach with the shekels I'm pulling down from shows, recordings, etc.

I have several projects that require a thousand hours more attention each than I can give them right now... This studio album and all the solo music related stuff - handmade merch, art, and so on. The Steampunk animated short. An "Odyssey" type concept album with a companion book of art and stories. And several other embryonic (maybe moronic) ideas all revolving around the creative arts. I'd be an idiot not to give them all their time on the table. And if any one of them fails to be what I saw originally, it'll probably be something even better.

Yeah. I've been doing a lot of thinking. See? This brain works! Pretty poorly at times, especially on the scattered sleep I get. I'll come back to some of this soon as time permits but for not I need to prepare to head into the studio for the evening. Happy Thursday, Everyone. The weekend is right there ahead of you. Enjoy it.

--dam

Ideas: Illegitimate mutant-children of the mind

2011-07-26T21:24:00.000-04:00

So I've had a whole bucket load of ideas the last several days. Ideas for videos. Actual music videos. Ideas for performances. New songs. The album. CD release shows. Separate artistic endeavors. A muddled mish-mosh of semi-formed, barely recognizable concepts... What does it all add up to? Well. I've had some thoughts on this. My time is wasted and poorly managed. My mind is in a hundred places while unable to focus on any one thing. I'm lazy. I'm getting sick of certain aspects of what I do. ...I'm headed toward another big change.

This album is still happening. Don't worry about that. But after the album. ... There's a pause because I'm not sure. I'm not sure I want to keep doing the acoustic thing. People have grown to expect a thing; a style from me and I am not sure I'm ok with being the same acoustic guitar-wielding songsmith. There's a hell of a lot more I'm capable of and have dabbled in in the past. Electronic sounds, for instance. Or how about....oh I don't know...Something beside the normal "get-up-on-a-stage-and-sing-a-few-songs-then-get-off" show. I'm a flashy kind of person sometimes. There's a theatricality and drama to being an artist. Why hide that? Of course, I'm thinking 'out loud' here. These are merely the floundering thoughts in passing while I try to allow said ideas time to congeal and grow.

I'm sitting here in an existential funk. But, what else is new? Listening to the soundtrack to the movie Ravenous and I just watched the movie The Book of Eli. Thanks to those bits of entertainment and beautiful art, I'm transported a little further from center. This tends to happen with most cinematic experiences unless the movie is completely awful. But I am the kind of person to enjoy a movie for what it was meant to be and wait to pick it apart after I've seen it a few times. Even then, there aren't many movies I've seen that I haven't enjoyed for the entertainment value. And let me tell you, I've seen at least 2500 movies in my life. I counted. Just look at my movie list on my personal facebook page if you don't believe me, (if you're not my 'friend' there, sorry, you probably can't see it.)

Ok. I've gotten seriously off track. But I felt I needed to write and here it is. Deal with it! You read this far, so you must be enjoying something about it! Thank 'teh gods' I live in a place where I can express the most trivial thoughts to potential millions of humans and not feel alone. Now if only I could learn to not be totally distracted by everyone else's self-expressions, I might get something done with my time here.

This entry brought to you by Insanoflex: Liquid Muscle Relaxant For Your Brain-Muscle (Not affiliated with ATHF Colon Movie Film for Theater's Insanoflex ©2007.

Last night's 3 hour performance

2011-07-24T11:28:00.000-04:00

It's 11am on an overcast Sunday and I've barely slept. Mostly tossed and turned while having a dream that someone jacked my parents car with the PA system I borrowed last night still inside. Yesterday, I managed to cram a monitor and one big old PA speaker into the back seat while the trunk was filled with guitars, stands, a mixer and other equipment. There was barely any room for ME. But I managed to get to this gig on time and be set up twenty minutes before I needed to start my 3 hour set.

Playing a gig to an audience of strangers, (not one person I know showed up,) is a frustrating challenge at best. At worst, it's a train wreck and you clear out the room. It was definitely a challenge last night, with one guy drunkenly shouting for Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" while the Red Sox game was in commercials. So what did I do? I looked up the lyrics online, figured out the 4 chords, and led the bar in a sad sad rendition of the classic song. You start to lose people after the first chorus.

As the night went on and the sweat poured down, I played a mountain of my own songs while mixing in a couple random covers I came up with on the fly. A couple hours in, the crowd had thinned out considerably to a yawning mass that turned out to be mostly friends and family of the venue's owners. So I turned back to the internet and asked for requests. I fumbled my way through songs I've never played and some I've only jokingly attempted. Led Zeppelin, Dispatch, Lynard Skynyrd, Jason Mraz, Rolling Stones, 10,000 Maniacs, Johnny Cash, and even threw out my goofy impression of Bob Dylan singing the Bee Gees "Night Fever." All in all, people were drunk, happy, and appreciative.

As bar gigs go, this wasn't the most memorable. Certainly not the best. But something about the night left me mentally scratching my head in wonder. Maybe because it's been so long since I played to a crowd that doesn't know me at all. Maybe because I didn't really care what the outcome was and I just went for it. And for three hours I got to belt out songs I love, that I've written, that people responded to now and then. Like some performers say, if you can get just one person to turn around and tap their foot and be engaged, you've done it. There are almost 7 billion people on the planet so maybe one isn't much to be proud of in the shadow of all that could be, but when its one room with 50 people, 1 foot tapping; one set of eyes watching ain't bad.

You know, it's way WAY too easy to be side-tracked...

2011-07-16T01:30:00.002-04:00

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You know, it's way WAY too easy to be side-tracked, derailed, and ultimately uninspired by a project when life deals you a sloppy hand. It's like trying to play poker with an Uno deck....and I don't know how to play poker. (Yeah, that's right. Very little knowledge of this massive pass-time. Big deal.) My point is, thing whole recording-an-album thing has been far less romantic than I'd hoped. With a healthy dose of reality checks and conversations full of back-patting encouragement from friends and fellow musicians, I thought I was well primed to dive into it and make this spectacular music.

Right out of the gate it was a crappy start with location, means of recording, and entire point of focus totally scrapped just three days from day 1 of recording sessions. Even with that stumbling block, I was determined. But after that very strange three weeks off from the day job doing nothing but sit around in a basement with instruments, technology, and my own strange thoughts, I didn't really feel like I'd done much. Pages and pages of notes and scribblings and ideas for arrangements and instrumentation and really not much was actually recorded yet.

Here I sit at what I think is about 50% and I figure, you all deserve a solid progress report. Especially those who enjoy what I do enough to fund this project out of your own wallets. The recordings sound amazing so far. With the help of the very talented Zack Ciras, I'm taking 14 songs as far as I can take them right now. The bits that are near complete - even without final vocals or being mastered and mixed down - sound gorgeous.

But the truth of the matter is, I've been pinned up against a wall in a dead-end alley by my own self-destructive ways. I sort of tossed my pile of neatly organized chaos up in the air in a childish fit and now I'm trying to catch the loose-leaf as it flutters down around me. Basically it's all bad choices, rough patches, and the stupid things humans do when confronted with adversity. Yes, I'm being vague. Because the details aren't important - not to anyone but me. The fact of the matter is, I'm uninspired by my own work right now. So I'm trying to excavate my head from the sand, look around, and take things more seriously and somehow less seriously at the same time.

Sorry if this is a bit too rambling and nebulous. I needed to express my frustration at the wildly unimpressive progress I've made so far. Accountability keeps us closer to the path, right?

As always, you know I love you....until next time?
--dam

DAMcast! Vol. 2 is up for grabs

2011-06-17T14:37:00.002-04:00

So, against conventional wisdom, I'm releasing DAMcast! Volume 2: Smile for the Camera just a couple weeks after Volume 1. I figure... if you want it you'll snag it. Of course, you can listen to the whole thing for free on the Bandcamp site. But for just $2.oo, you can have the whole thing.

For those of you just tuning in, it's a bootleg digital-only series from a semi-regular webcast I've dubbed 'DAMcast!' Now and then there will be internet parties where I'll sit down with you to chat, play originals and covers, and be goofy. This is for the friends around the world that can't come to shows, or for those hermits that don't want to leave their cozy caves to see me in person right down the street. (It's ok, I do the same thing. I understand.)

And, of course, I spent 3 1/2 weeks working on the new record. There's still a LOT to do. I'd say I'm a quarter of the way done with actually recording and that's being generous. But don't fret none. It's happening! I still can't believe it myself. I returned to the day job about a week ago... and what a week it's been. I've been out of commission for a few days with dental issues that resulted in emergency yankification of two teeth. So now I'm hopped up on antibiotics and tylenol-codeine and unable to eat more than applesauce, yogurt, and a little mac'n'cheese. Needless to say, I've had a hard time staying focused on work of any kind so this is my attempt to reset that focus and get back into the groove.

"So in conclusion, ladies and jelly-spoons..." check out Bandcamp for the DAMcast! downloads. Watch the website/blog for updates on recording. Oh, and don't be afraid to say hello, eh?

Happy weekend folksy folks,
--dam

Thoughts on recording, so far.

2011-06-09T23:42:00.000-04:00

My time off from the day job has come to an end, essentially. But I'm sort of ok with that. I think I work far better under pressure (albeit, self imposed) and deadlines. Sometimes I call it procrastination. Ultimately it just means I work best when I don't know what I'm about. If I tell myself the night before, "I am going to do this, this, and this tomorrow. I will accomplish something." More often than not, I end up sitting on my duff, staring at a computer screen, enveloped in fictions and non-fictions that will ultimately inspire me and my creative process.

These last three weeks have been equal parts infuriating and exciting. Time constraints and scheduling meant I was working in the studio one day and the next I might be sitting around not sure what to do with my time. I know I should have been working on something to do with the album but some days, just like any one else, I simply didn't want to.

So far though, I've really gotten some great ideas recorded and a fantastic all around idea of the landscape I'm working in as far as an overall feel of this album. Even though stylistically and genre-wise the songs are across the map, there is still the sense that these are still my songs I'm working on. I think the direction everything is headed is amazing. It will take more time than I'd hoped to accomplish everything. Still, in the end I think we'll all be more impressed for it. I mean, I still can't believe I'm recording this album!

Here's a teaser clip where I worked through the bass part with Zack. Since I can't play upright bass, Zack is clearly the right guy for the job. What you hear may is no where near finished. Oh yeah, and the song has never been performed for anybody.

There will be other clips and photos as i go through them all. There's not much at the moment though. So be patient!

And here, friends, is my newest addition to the family. My gorgeous Telecaster. It sounds wonderful and it will be played on this new record and subsequent touring. Now if only i had amps, pedals, and other fancy tech to go with it... With that, I say goodnight.

--dam

In the Stew, Dio.

2011-05-27T09:35:00.000-04:00

It's far too early. But here I am. Awake even before I usually get up for my day job. Why? Because I'm recording a dang album. That's why. Really, I just want to sleep. But that's because i am not a morning person. So disregard my grumpy tone.

After a lot of back and forth, I finally settled on working at my friend Zack Ciras's place. He's got an amazing set up with everything I need to make this album as cleanly and quickly as I can. Instruments, gorgeous mics, and a digital studio-in-a-mixer monster that I'm still learning to use. So far I've been doing most of the work on my own. Lots of standing up, walking, press stop, walk back, sit, play, screw up, repeat. Tedious, but it keeps me focused on getting it right the first time. ...or the twelfth time.

Here's the first photo of the sessions, thumb & all. I was getting set up to record demo takes of a mountain of songs. I think I ended up recording 19 songs in one afternoon and a few more the next day. Then I decided what songs to focus on so my time is better spent in the studio. Time is my biggest restriction. That means perfection isn't necessarily the goal. Great albums don't have to be technically perfect.

I'm one week into the process. It started slow but I've begun recording the acoustic guitar tracks. I'm going to go by instrument, recording every song, then moving onto the next instrument. Today I'm aiming to finish up the guitar. From there, I'll figure out what to work through next. This photo is the mic set up Zack arranged for the guitars. 4 mics for the win. It sounds amazing and it's going to come in handy in the mixing.

I've got 14 songs I'm focusing on. I decided to cut down the number of songs. This being my first actual studio record, there's going to be a lot of new listeners; people who've never heard me before. There's no sense in boring them with an 80 minute monster. Today's ADD-inspired music-lover doesn't generally listen to a whole album anyway, so why put two album's worth of work into something they'd only get through a third of? I know. I know. Not everyone is like that. I'm a whole-album guy. If I want to hear an artist, I pick an album, not a song, and I listen to it beginning to end.

So anyhow, if I can get through these 14 quick enough, I'll hopefully be able to come back to a few others I had in mind and have them prepared for some other special release or maybe even the follow up. I have so much material I want to record, there's no sense in letting it go to waste. ... ...That's enough for today. I'll be back soon with another update on the awesomeness that is this new album. It's gonna be Hyooj!

--dam

DAMcast! Vol. 1: The Internet Never Lies

2011-05-02T01:47:00.001-04:00

Hi everybody,

I've got some great news. I've started a special bootleg series and for a limited time it's only available to my fundraiser Backers! Volume 1 contains the performances from the first ever DAMcast. Volume 2 will be songs from the second DAMcast and so on. So expect at least one more volume over the next couple months while you wait for the new album. This will be available for free to the Backers first, then it will go out to the public June 1 on Bandcamp for a minimal price. This is a Digital Only series or releases, so expect much much more over the coming months! I've got mountains of ideas and I'm so excited about this album. You guys will not be disappointed!

--dam

Kickstarter: 36 days Come & Gone

2011-04-27T20:41:00.000-04:00

As I stated on the homepage of my website: "Thank you to everyone for helping me reach my goal on Kickstarter! To keep up to date on the progress of the album and the project as a whole, please come back often. Right here at davemagario.com, you'll see everything and hear everything there is to share! This website is still under construction (clearly) but rest assured there is tons more content coming! Thanks again to all 53 Backers..."

It's hard to believe that 5 weeks felt so very long to get through. But now that it's over, it seems as if I just began the campaign. And here we are. Finished! Thanks to all of YOU, I'll be able to take the time I need to make this fantastic album. I'll be able to access the money in a few weeks, so hopefully that is when the recording will begin!

I'll fill in the details as the weeks move along. But for now just know that I'm working out the where, when, and how of it all. I've started charting out the songs I want to record. And after some wonderful conversations and idea swapping with several people, I've narrowed down the idea and focused it into what will hopefully blow your minds.

I'm working very hard on the new website ( davemagario.com ) I've connected this blog to the site and I've got a new store in the works that I've dubbed the DAMshop! There will be some special FREE digital downloadable content for the Kickstarter Backers coming soon! (It will become available to everyone else at a later date.) I'm compiling performances from DAMcast 1 & 2. 43 tracks to listen through and tweak! Tons to work with. Big ol' smile!

So much to do! FOR YOU!
--dam

DAMcast! A Live Celebration

2011-04-20T02:01:00.000-04:00

This Saturday (April 23) at 6pm - DAMcast!

I'll be going live once more at www.davemagario.com. But this time it will be a celebration of the last month of fingernail-biting, knee-bouncing, nerve-destroying anticipation! As I type this, I've just gotten another pledge, bringing us closer to the goal! But don't forget *we can go beyond the goal.* It doesn't stop when we hit $2500. You guys can help make my future. You are deciding the next steps I take with my music and my recordings. So come online at 6pm on Saturday and join in the conversation. Request one of my songs (maybe I'll even wing a cover or two?).

There will be much rejoicing! ((yaaaaay!))

_______________________________________________

That's the update you'll see at the Kickstarter page. As of now, we're at the one yard line with a field goal lined up. Seriously. You guys have driven so hard through the last week to raise this money for me. Granted, I've been spending long days and late nights working to promote and share with every single outlet I can remember and gather.

I have at least 18 songs in mind to be recorded. There's so much I want to record I'm not sure I'll get through it all. In the last year and a half alone I've written or begun a total of 30 songs. There's a LOT to choose from. The album is there like a monument waiting to be carved out of a granite hillside. I'm ready to get to it.

But right now, it's 2am and there is a day job still waiting on the other side of a short night's sleep. But I can't begin to express the excited, humbling anxiety that's been rushing through my brain the last couple weeks while I watched those pledges come in. Confirmation that there is an audience for what I do. And there will still be an audience when things move in other directions. (The film project with my siblings. Other music ventures. Whatever.)

It's fantastic to know I can reach out through the internet to you - YOU - and get a real, honest response on an idea, then move forward. That's Kickstarter. That's this album. It started as a single with a B-side. If love was... is going to be either my greatest achievement thus far or the biggest flopped attempt at creativity ever. Let's shoot for the prior, yeah?

Goodnight Spring Moon,
--dam

The One-Week-Left Webcast!

2011-04-16T18:23:00.000-04:00

Hi everybody! First of all, thank you everyone for the support all over the web. Lots of link-sharing, pledges, and 'likes' that all add up to greater awareness and support of this project! But here's the skinny: If every single one of you that clicked "Like" on the main fundraiser page gave just $5, I would be just dollars shy of reaching my goal. We're so close to seeing this thing through.

So this Sunday night, I'm planning a webcast via justin.tv where I will chat with you, play some songs, and answers any questions you might have about the album, the process, the rewards here on Kickstarter, and whatever else you want! I'm excited to hear from you all and share my songs LIVE across the interwebz.

Remember, this isn't about the fundraiser. It's about making my first album ever, jam-packed with songs new and old, artwork, and a slew of extra videos, photos, and documentation we've come to expect from an undertaking like this. So please, if you're still on the fence about supporting a musician's recording-habit, consider the investment. You're getting at the very least, a track from the album that YOU helped create. Thank you again for all your time, energy, attention, and love -

--dam

New Song: Paper Mache

2011-04-09T23:13:00.002-04:00

Without burying the lead, let's dive right in....Here is Paper Mache. Written earlier today, I made up the melody on the way as the video rolled. One of those songs that just....happened.

I learned young to dream old
See the future for the past it holds
I can outrun the chasing clock
I will come home but you will not

There's only so much
Paint and clay and paper mache
You can pile on to hide
The pain and rage, dissapointed dismay

Too many layers and it crumbles away
Too many whole ones before this darkened day

I came too late to fall in line
The gathered mass I stand behind
I will outshine the burning fear
I can come down and still shed tears

I grew young and dreamed old
Naive enough to never know
I can't outdo the living end

I won't come round here again

Today, April 9, is the third anniversary of my nephew's death. So I did what I could with what I have to honor his life today. It eased my heart. I hope it works this way every time.

Here's to full lives, smiles, and love, my friends...

--dam

A whirlwind that has taken hold...

2011-04-02T13:25:00.001-04:00

These last few weeks have been an explosion; a whirlwind that has taken hold of creativity and whipped it into a wild, tangled mass of focus and fervor. Just as I set the Kickstarter Campaign into motion, a project that had been looming for almost a year finally came around, got really awesome, and happened! Poof! Came and went.

A while back, my sister-in-law dropped my name to a friend who was in a tribute project that lost a singer. That tribute was to the late, great, and posthumously-famed Jeff Buckley. The previous singer had hurt his voice throwing himself into singing Buckley's work and decided he'd better not chance it (considering he has other projects to sing for.)

So with Ron Mominee, Rodger LaVallee, and Derek Kerswill, I am now singing and playing guitar for what has blossomed into a full fledged tribute band. Not just a one-off. Peyote Radio Theatre will be a regular thing. The name comes from Jeff's first promotional EP/demo which had 3 tracks (Mojo Pin, Kangaroo, and Dream Brother). He also used the title for his business entity and all of the bands gear had "Peyote Radio Theatre" stenciled on the cases.

I've said all that to set up the retelling of the rehearsals and the show that followed. These guys are pros. They've had 10 years and more to refine their skills. That wonderful story of "he started playing at the age of 6," and so on...that's these guys. So I was nervous to show my own skills. But once I got behind that mic and my guitar, it all happened like some wonderful scene in a movie. Lots of shared looks that said "wow. damn, guys. this is great." Two rehearsals. Just two. With lots and LOTS of cramming to comprehend Buckley's chords and progressions and skill-stretching vocals.

Then, March 26 happened. The big show. No nerves. Not until I got on that stage and realized that it was real. Although it still plays back like dreams do when you remember them the next morning - foggy, out of order, and full of tricks of the mind and impossibilities. Several people were video taping though, so there is proof! We were there. It happened, really!

My cheat sheets were slipping off the stand. Here, I'm about to throw the rest up in the air.

A couple times Derek looked over at me with a face-wide grin and said "Dude...where did you come from?" It's comments like that that'll give a man a massive egos, buddy. Ease up. Then Rodger, a couple times into the microphone, "Dave. Your awesome," with the audience roaring approval. And me, most likely blushing, definitely shaking my head, and telling everyone (in my mind) to "shut up! ...nuh-uh!"

...All the time I was working on Buckley's music, I was watching my Kickstarter funding climb higher and continuously asking support of and thanking people left and right.. Here we are two weeks down with 3 more to go, and I'm at 38% - Shocked by the generous pledges and all the support in general, (links being shared all over the place.)

I've been thinking ahead about this recording project and some great ideas are coming up. We'll see how much of it can be accomplished. And it all still hangs on whether or not I reach my funding goal! The pressure is on. It's going to be a long few weeks but I'm ready.

So much positive energy in and around me. Friends touring again. New EPs and projects. Constant mutation and transition; migration and transformation. I look forward to looking forward some more.

See you somewhere up the road.
--dam

Kickstarter Campaign has Launched!

2011-03-19T20:33:00.001-04:00

Before I say anything else, here's the link to check it all out! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/928646704/if-love-was-a-new-full-length-album - If you saw my last post yesterday, you get the idea. If not, here's the breakdown: I'm raising money for just over a month to record a new album. I'm asking you and everyone else who's interested in what I do to pledge what you can to help make this a successful, dream-come-true! In return for your support, you'll receive all different kinds of rewards. So check out the link if you haven't already and see what the fuss is all about! People are already getting in on this and I could not be more excited.

You'll be getting more updates and so on as the process continues, so keep an eye out, spread the word, and remember, I love you all!

--dam

Help me make my first full length album!

2011-03-19T01:24:00.000-04:00

    You read that right. People have questioned me already, "Wait. Dave, I thought you have 3 CDs out?!" Well, yes. There are three discs out there, but two are EPs (7 tracks, tops) and one is a live recording with some of YOU chatting with me from the audience! Those hardly count toward 'studio' recordings. That has to change and soon.

    What I plan to do is take a couple weeks off to hole up in a secret location with some new recording gear and about 25 songs to piece together the most exciting recording I've ever attempted. But there IS a catch! I need help to get there!

    I have teamed up with Kickstarter.com to ask you, the fans, to be the progenitors of this project - To make. It. Happen. Kickstarter allows me to not only raise the money I need AND give back to those who support and enjoy this music as much as I do! Keep an eye out for updates and the full explanation of how you can be a part of making a great record come to life.

Thank you all so much.
Here's to the Springtime,
--dam

2 Big Shows Coming Up!

2011-03-16T02:01:00.000-04:00

First of all, I will say - Hello. How are you? I am phenomenal, thanks for subconsciously asking.

This Friday the 18th at The Raven

I'll be performing with Sound in Stone, Brown Bird, Eye Witness, and Bella Birds!! Every one of these guys has done great things and continues to work hard. I'm really pumped to see Brown Bird. I've missed every opportunity over the years. Always heard good things about 'em.

The next show is the 26th @ Lucky Dog Music Hall

Peyote Radio Theatre: A Tribute to the music of Jeff Buckley - Thanks to Derek Kerswill, Roger LaVallee, and Ron Mominee, we've put together a great set of songs reaching across his short but explosive and intensely influencial career. More information will come on this very soon! Keep an eye on my facebook page.

Another post is coming soon as well about the plans unfurling around my first ever studio album. So stay tuned, be excited with me, and get ready for great things to come!

Love and Sugary Sweetness,
--dam

A rare moment of sharing...

2011-03-07T01:18:00.002-05:00

I don't usually share words with the world until a song let's me know it's done. But I've been feeling like sharing a bit more recently. So, to quote one of my favorite speeches from a film, "without further gilding the lily," here are some lyrics...I will explain a bit after.

Gather in your children
There's beasts out in the land
Huddle in your kitchens
There's no time now, understand
Take up your arms
And fight to save what's left

...Do what you can

They're starving for attention
These thirsty souls lay bared
Keeping watch the night through
These tired eyes still stare
Gather at the fire
And tend your wounds with care

...Do what you can

Why do we aid the stranger at our side?
What is the thing that draws the good from inside?
I am no hero; no saintly soul
We act on instinct until the pieces again are whole

The best of men will wonder
While the worst claim to be blind
The last of us to falter
Is the first we stand behind
Stake your claim and hold
And shelter in the light

...Do what you can

Now then... That song is something I posted about on twitter the other day. Initially, I was inspired to write when a friend sent me a video of Townes Van Zandt singing a song of his called Tecumseh Valley. His sadness and his hopelessness sparked the process. Then, after researching a bit, I stepped away from his music and went back to listening to this audio-book version of a series I'm intensely into.

The world inside the Wheel of Time books drew out these words. The imagery and the desperation that comes through in not just the main characters (of which there are many,) but the passers-by and the background characters...All searching for their path through a violent and trying time to be alive.

Imagine a world slowly falling into chaos, depravity, and darkness. Roving bands of criminals looting villages and burning everything else. Aberrations of chance causing people to die by the simplest accident and on the other hand, people surviving frighteningly implausible ones. Entire ghost towns appearing, then melting away into the land, dragging the living down with them, out of reality into nothingness. Add to that world giant half-man beasts that lust for blood and enjoy a good hunt rampaging...scary stuff. But there's always hope to be found in some brave soul; one person who will not stand for the atrocities befalling their friends, families, countrymen.

That's what reaches to me from the story. Hope is always there to be taken up and held high like a banner or a torch in the darkness. ...So yes...that's where my thoughts went, when I started to write this song. I may add or change things. But I enjoy it as it is right now. The music that jumped out for it is... new for me in some fashion. A different style somehow. Maybe someone can sense it when I get to play it.

I have realized some very distinct voices in my writing. They're building a multi-sided figure I have yet to discover the shape of. On one side of this shape, I've been growing more into the mellow and introspective - these songs tend to become very folky, eerie, and somewhat ...ethereal. They are the songs that seem to be overlooked at performances - by the audience and even by me sometimes. Usually because I try to gauge the mood of the crowd and play off that - and these audiences' vibes tell me "play something happy." (That's a testament to the times we live in.)

On another side, I've got this blues-driven, Tom Waitsian fervor that scratches and claws to be let out. There, I let some upbeat songs come through. When I pull out one of these the heads start turning at shows. I haven't reached anywhere near what I know I can do in this style. But it's coming through here and there. Tied into this bluesy thing comes some of the songs I've started writing for piano. I look to Ben Folds. And I listen to the Elton John & Leon Russell collaboration. There's a pounding, boiling, soulful energy in a lot of that music. I'm trying to find some of the energy I had when I first started writing on the keys. Here's a chorus I have for a piano piece I'm working on:

Where there is joy - I hope to be there
When I find strength - I hope to be fair
When I have the means - I'll right what I've done wrong
Where there is joy - I pray there is a song

That's just a bit of the song, but the rest needs too much editing to share it now. Unfocused thoughts and images. ---- I realize this is getting to be a massive entry, but I'm ok with that. I started writing it...two hours ago, far as I can tell. I thought I would be done much sooner. But blogging can wait when there is conversation to be had. ---- Back to the previous train of thought... ...There is another side of my writing that is for other voices. I write knowing that I might never actually perform a song. It's meant for a different voice. Those take me to a more pop-sensible place. Straight-forward lyrics with the listener in mind, too. I've never actually had someone else perform one of these. Some day,...we'll see.

One last scrap of unedited lyric to close out the night. If you've read this far, you are wonderful. Here's a gold star right on your forehead:------------------>

There's anger in your words

And fire, too
But your tone says more than sounds could
And it stabs right through
The careful denial

Beneath a hand-crafted smile
Your violence is done
your anger has won

I watched you close
Not close enough for you to see
You pulled away your mask

And let yourself breath
Your skin had paled
But your eyes stayed sharp
I know you see the layers of shame and scars

Can you see the glow

And the beauty, patient and pure?
I know you once believed

What can I do to make you sure?

--dam

Grab life by it's thorny bits...

2011-03-04T18:39:00.002-05:00

For me, big decisions have never come easily or been made lightly. I've spent the last year or so slowly rolling an idea around in my head to see it from different angles, in different moods. The idea? A BIG change. A big move. Of course the first red flags are always "Wait, why?" or "You can't leave everything behind!" and "What about everyone you know here?" But those thoughts all stem from fear of the unknown. And let's face it, we've got the internet. No two people are REALLY ever out of touch when there are two computers or cell phones between them. So, putting that train of thought aside, the thought becomes more enticing and easier to approach.

Where to? There are so many places to see. The traveling/touring I did last year was a drop in the bucket. I got these wallet-sized snapshots of experiences and people and places every day for two weeks. I've never done much traveling, so I'd say it's about time I packed up what I need and found somewhere else to be. I've got family making a big move to Austin later this year. I may follow that transition and hang out there for a while. But that won't be a permanent thing.

There's New York and Los Angeles. And there's New Orleans or Montreal. Seattle or San Diego. Two very different Portlands on either side of the nation. Then there's the rest of the whole wild world! Good lord. What have I been waiting for, right? Maturity. General sensibility. Money. A conscious grasp of what I'm about on this green rock spiraling around an average star. Or maybe that's all crap and I've just been too damn scared to step up and grab my life by it's thorny bits and take the chances I've been side-stepping for most of a decade.

I've talked to several people about this. I've gotten the same response from them all. "That sounds like a great idea!" But, before I go anywhere, I plan to play some great show. See some even better shows. And spend time collecting the good memories I've forgotten about this place and the people I love. I do not want to leave home with a barrel of only sadness and regret. That will come along. It's unavoidable. But It doesn't have to be everything I remember and feel for Massachusetts.

````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Tonight I'm playing a last minute set in Worcester. I don't expect to see many familiar faces there because of the timing. Still, I'm excited to have a chance to play more than a half hour. I'll have an hour or more to work in. That's where I thrive. The long form show is my friend. Room to improvise and let the songs shake off some of their dust. It's been a long time since I've played some of those I have in mind. The lyrics have been buzzing in my head all day as if they were someone else's. I caught myself asking my memory, "who's song is that?" then I probably blushed as I realized, "Oh...stupid. That's yours."

I think that's a testament to how I write. I write songs that I like!! Perhaps no one else will get the lyrics or the music, but I write for myself as much as I do for people that enjoy what I create. So maybe it's a little self-serving. Don't I have to be happy with what I write, though? Of course.

.....This went on a bit longer than I expected it would. I'll have to come back to this and write another time. Maybe after the show if there's energy left for that. Until next time, all five of my readers, I bid you bonne nuit and a happy but mentally challenging weekend.

--dam

What're the words to that one?

2011-02-26T03:21:00.002-05:00

If you ever wondered about the words to any of my songs, I've finished gathering the majority of them into one place on my website. There's a bunch from my early days of writing that I am mulling over adding but I'm not sure if I want to share some of them... Not my best work. Proud of it, yes, but it's clearly the work of a moody teenager with grandiose ideas, good insight, but an obvious lacking of life experience to grasp the point of what he was trying to say. Heck, I didn't fully understand half the stuff I wrote over the last decade until long after I wrote it.

But that's how it's worked for me. I write a thing and set it aside. Most often it's a few lines at a time here and there. Then I come back, realize a theme, and piece together the makings of a song. Sometimes it all pours out in ten minutes and I have no idea what to make of it. The point is, I've wanted to do this for quite a while; to share the words by themselves and let you see them standing alone without the music.

I hope they still carry an emotive meaning, even if not the same that you feel from the song the lyrics are attached to. For me, it's a reminder that I have a long way to go even if I have come further than I ever thought I could. Reading through some of the songs I don't play much, I find myself wondering

why. It's hard to keep older songs in the forefront when there are new ones piling in around them. Last year I wrote almost 20 songs. For me, that's a HUGE deal. Before that, I was lucky if I churned out 6 acceptable songs. I couldn't keep up with the ideas last year. I even had to let some fade to focus on the songs that came out on top.

I've said all this to encourage you to read and hope that you'll come back looking for more as new songs and old find there way into the 'Songbook.' I almost called it a hymnal, but I figured that's a teensy tiny bit blasphemous. Plus, there's a good chunk of people who don't even know what the crap a hymnal is any-dang-way!

If you're reading this from my blog, head over to www.davemagario.tk and you'll see the link in the main links up top. If you all dig what you read and really do want to see the old, old piano-based songwriting, maybe I can be convinced.

--dam

Worcester Music Awards Nominations

2011-02-05T18:31:00.001-05:00

Pulse Magazine's Worcester Music Awards are coming down the pipeline. I've never participated in the WMAs, but the nomination polls are open so you know what that means! Fill out the short survey to add your favorite Worcester acts (including yours truly!) - Keep in mind the categories that best apply are "Best Male Vocalist" "Best Up and Coming Act" and "Best Solo Act." Please also keep my good friends in mind - Shane Hall and The TickleBomb Orchestra, Only At Night, The Mad Cowboy (Matt Hopewell), Speaker For The Dead, plus any number of awesome bands, performers, that I can't call to mind right now! I'll be reminding you as the month rolls on but spread the word to friends and anyone who enjoys local live music!!

Click Here: WMA Nomination Polls

--dam

Super Huge Winter Deal!

2011-01-24T18:21:00.001-05:00

Thanks to the great peoples over at Bandcamp.com, I've got a great deal on digital downloads for you! For a limited time, I'm offering my entire discography for under $10!! The great thing about Bandcamp, for those who don't know, is that you - the fans - can offer to pay more if you feel the desire to be generous. So if you are missing any of my releases or haven't gotten anything yet, now's the time to snag your download. This deal is ONLY through Bandcamp!

Click the banner now to get what you're looking for!

See you Thursday at Wadzilla Mansion in Boston - Doors open 8pm. $5 cover. Thanks everyone for all the continued support.

--dam

What? Oh yeah, It's 2011

2011-01-19T20:21:00.000-05:00

Reasons for being away from the blog for two months? Various and sundry....My point is. It's been a while. Again. Between being sick and being sick, I haven't had much energy for anything but continuing to carry on with my day job and the paying of bills - (And trying to write new snippets of music here and/or there.)

Last year was quite a whirlwind. A new EP and new merch. An honest-to-goodness tour. Lots of local shows. And 18 new songs written! Plus, I nearly finished a side-project but had a catastrophic loss of audio data. So that project is on a back burner, being stirred ever so often in hopes that it will be finished and ready for visual/aural consumption in this life-time. (See my other blog for more details on that.) But the year sort of ended with a whimper for me, because of the extreme difference of being on the road doing what I love versus a part-time work-or-starve lifestyle. (That, and the fact that I was sick most of November and December?)

But... Here's the new year... Full of all kinds of political fury, (un)natural phenomena, and more of the same old same. Still, there's so much potential! So much untapped energy and room for improvements. I'm contemplating a move. To where? I don't know. Maybe I'll get lucky and find someone with a secluded space for rent where I can retreat to record and write and be LOUD and unafraid. For all my years of performance, I'm still shy about sharing what I do. Especially when I don't want anyone to hear it just yet (or ever).

Coming up soon (in March) I have been the recipient of a flurry of emails about a short-term tribute project. Various musicians from some of the Worcester area's best groups are coming together to revive a tribute project from a couple years back. As I do with most projects, I figure: The more I talk about it, the more likely it is to actually happen! So, looking to a late March show (with possible others to follow), I'll be getting together with these guys to sing a selection of Jeff Buckley tracks from his whole catalog.

For those of you who know me or have heard me at least once. His songs sneak into most of my shows. A deep and important influence on my writing and growth as an artistic human, I hope I can do Jeff's music and voice justice with a full band of guys I've never played with. But knowing what I know of their various musical works, and the previous incarnation of the tribute, this should be monumentally fantastic.

That's enough for now. I figured a summary was better than a novel. I gotta re-stretch the part of my brain that fuel this sort of writing.

Type atchya soon,
--dam

A lot of work to do...

2010-11-30T18:23:00.001-05:00

It's been quite a month since I got home from tour. Lots of stress and sickness in these few weeks. So, because of that, a lot things have been piling up. Emails. All the recordings and photos from the tour to sort and share. Updating the website. And on and on in that fashion. Plus, I've meant to write to reflect on the tour a little more. But here I am, one week down into a cold after one week of vomit-inducing vertigo and dizziness. It's been a hell of a trip. I have been trying to work when I feel up to it.

Today I sent out Snake Oil to a bunch of digital stores, so you'll be seeing links to purchase that soon as it's available. In addition to that, I've also been trying to update my Myspace profile since they launched the new beta interface. I have to say, I'm impressed with the changes and glad I didn't give up on it yet (mostly out of laziness and the hassle of trying to back-up all the unique information stored there.)

There's a lot of audio to sift through from the tour. I haven't listened to any of it since being out on the road, but I do remember there being some very good performances. Hopefully I'll have the brain power and time to carve out those gems and share them with you all!

That's about it for now. I'll leave you with a picture.

Much love,
--dam

[Playing in the park in Manhattan]

D.C., Glenside & Home

2010-11-05T21:06:00.001-04:00

We drove to Washington, D.C. in the rain and wind from Myrtle Beach. It was stormy, but not bad enough to keep us from getting there on time. So we set up at Dupont Circle which is a small park area with a beautiful fountain in the middle of a large rotary (or round-about, depending where you're from.) Our host Chris showed up with a handful of kids and we played in the park about half an hour each. After that, I realized how exhausted I was and how much I'd been fighting it back. So Chris led the way back to the apartment while the kids dispersed and Greg wandered off to find an open mic. I attempted to blog but passed out within an hour of settling in.

Fast-forward to the morning. I slept about 10 hours and could have slept more. But we needed to be on our way to Pennsylvania! Chris actually gave me a mug of coffee for the road. I have a souvenir from DC! W007 for tourists. (Chris was awesome. He had a poster of HomestarRunner.com and their many many characters.) So we took off and got to Glenside, PA (a short drive from Philly) and got there with hours to spare. Dunkin' D's had wifi, so we stopped there for a couple hours. Very VERY rockstar-like of us. Hanging out at Dunkin's instead of burning down a hotel or something....

Arcadia University...

...has a castle. (stock photo)

Yeah. Those are DORMS. ..........So anyway. We played for about 20 people in their dining hall. Lots of foot-traffic and tons of smiles and toe-tapping enjoyment. CDs made it into the hands of many of those listeners. We talked for a while about re-evaluating our lives and doing what we love. It was like a seminar or something. Very good people, even if a bit shy at first!

With a free pepperoni pizza, we started out toward home with seemingly enough gas to get through NY. That didn't happen. Down to just the 'E' light staring at me, I wondered if we were going to run out of gas before we found a station. The first location did NOT exist. Garmin's GPS is a liar sometimes. Five minutes later and just a mile around the block, there was a Mobil ready to price gouge and take all our money.

Because of the detour, we had to take route 87 instead of 95 up through the rest of NY. That turns into Merrit Parkway in CT. I don't know if you have driven that before but it's beautiful in the day time. You pass under bridges and the road curves and rolls around like a roller coaster. They have these beautiful trees and foliage planted in the median and on the sides of the road. Again, during the daytime, in the sunlight, this drive is breathtaking. But at 10pm in the rain with a fog so thick I couldn't see the cars in front of me, the roller coaster was a horror flick waiting to happen. The Mist comes to mind. Or perhaps an alien invasion flik. In any case, I got us home safe with maybe only two "oops-I-started-to-fall-asleep" moments on the rumble strip. (Thank the gods for the person who thought THAT up. Must be a millionaire...or at least a thousandaire.)

So we got home from Glenside to Worcester in 4 hours. That was without super speeding. I still think we found a wormhole. Not sure. We ended the tour where it began, at Alex's house. Sort of sad but fitting. It wrapped the whole trip up in a "pretty pink ribbon."

In the next post expect some random memories, (hopefully) photos, etc. I think it's almost time to pass out and dream of driving.

--dam

Nashville to Ashville and Myrtle Beach

2010-11-04T09:06:00.000-04:00

Bloomington to Nashville was a beautiful drive. We saw a lot of small towns with the classic singular stop light and a lone state trooper hanging out at almost every one, oddly. I've confirmed a couple things on this tour. People are the same all over, even the police. Also, deer have it really bad. We joked that we saw a dead deer for every hundred miles, but the more I think about it, it's probably every 50 miles.

Nashville, for all it's legendary wonder, looked and sounded like a theme park. We walked 3 miles into town from where we parked to try to busk and see some local flavor. Being a Sunday (and Halloween,) there weren't many people on the street. But every single bar. EVERY SINGLE BAR had a live band. Every door was open, too. So the sound coming from that main drag was a cacophony much like playing 12 separate country radio stations on 12 different stereos. (Don't make me prove it.)

We made all of 26 cents on a street corner in Nashville. Then we walked, dejectedly back to the open mic spot where we left the car. It was a local showcase full of characters in costume (as if they needed costumes). Southern charm mixed with Halloween = ???? I still haven't found a word for it. Bizarre isn't right. We didn't get to play though and ended up taking of for Asheville.

We took our time on the road, even pulling over for an hour and a half to sleep. I got a ticket from a Tennessee trooper who must have had something against Massachusetts or just picked us at random, because I was going as fast as everyone else coming up over a hill around a bend. But forget it, right? I'm not going to let that ruin the experience. So we got to Asheville at 6am and passed out at my brother's house.

Mike and Michelle took such great care of us, we barely wanted to move on to Myrtle beach. They took us to a Teppanyaki restaurant and cooked for us at home too. Clean clothes, a hot shower, and a magical sofa made of clouds to sleep on...it would've been easy to stick around just one more day. We could not find anywhere to play in Asheville though. Even the cafes were telling us "sorry, it's Monday night football tonight..." Seriously? At a cafe? So I ended up busking at the Flat Iron building in the restaurant/shops/business area. Made a few bucks. Like I said to Greg, "If smiles could fill the gas tank..." we could get home without filling up again. Unfortunately smiles do not fuel internal combustion engines. I gotta get on that one. We left Mike and Michelle with CDs and shirts and many many thank-yous, and high hopes for Myrtle Beach.

The cafe (Fresh Brewed Coffee House) was wonderful. It felt so good to be in a cafe setting up to play music. Reminded me of home and all the coffee shops I've been through. The FBCH is run by a Christian organization. Not sure what denomination, but it doesn't really matter. They were wonderful people. Exactly what you hope you can expect from Christians: Warm greetings, honest smiles, support and endless compassion. There was nothing 'in-your-face' about it. They simply were genuinely good people trying to make a difference. We played two sets book-ending an AA meeting that took place in a separate room. It wasn't as strange as it sounds. We sold CDs, I sold a couple more bracelets. People were happy to hear us and wanted more.

Greg has a 2nd cousin in the city, Kim, and she put us up in her house for the night. She cooked for us and gave us food for the road the next day. So sweet. Definitely letting her motherly nature shine. Next stop. Washington D.C. ...next time!

Week 1 Ends: Chicago & Bloomington

2010-10-30T14:01:00.000-04:00

Now that there's a little down time to collect my thoughts, I figured I can write a bit. Thursday morning we took off for Chicago. At some point I was on a cell network called Einstein PCS. Also, we drove through a small flock of birds that decided turning around was a good idea and we smacked into at least one of them. It was awful. Later down the road we almost hit a fox I think. But driving through that part of the country, there is no direct way to get anywhere. It's all curving routes and long stretches in almost the opposite direction to get to a connecting highway.

Also, we were in and out of the Central Time zone so many times I thought my phone might just give up and die. But we finally got to Chicago around 430 local time. We got some authentic Italian pizza at I Monelli's. I definitely recommend it if you are around the area. Let The Eat Chocolate, the venue, was cozy and full of tasty treats. Unfortunately being on a tight budget means "look don't touch" is pretty much the rule. another time perhaps. Homemade icecream and cheesecakes and so on. Tooth-aches just from looking, right?

So we played an open mic that was anything goes. Comedy, poetry, music. Whoever feels like it gets up and performs one piece each until everyones had a couple chances. Laid back and comfortable as we chatted between performers. More like a livingroom than a cafe at that point. We met some lovely people and managed to get back on the road early enough to get to Bloomington, IN at 2am and SLEEP.

And that's where I am now. Day two in Bloomington. We played Rhino's, an all ages community venue. Really cool arts oriented space with a computer lab and paintings and show posters everywhere. My Pal Dragon had a great set (though the audience didn't start filling up until their last couple songs). Very folk-rock with some pop in there too. If they had a full band, I could here some Decemberists type stuff happening. Then Greg and I played our sets. Greg had people hushed and attentive as he played unplugged. I played through the PA and tried my best to not destroy my voice. Finally, The Best Friends got up and brought the crowd to the edge of the stage for a fun, upbeat set of indie pop. As in, "the best sound track to your favorite indie film last summer" sort of sound.

We crashed again at a friends place here in town and have been bumming around the apartment, getting work done online and catching up on some quiet time. Plans have changed and we're probably heading to Nashville tomorrow until monday night or tuesday morning. There will be some sleeping in the car at some point, but it's worth it to see Nashville and hopefully hit up some open mics and/or songwriters circles. We WERE supposed to get to Georgia but money and time-wise, it's not working out. So here I am. Lazing about, deservedly. I've driven 30+ hours and 2300+ miles in the last week. This quiet unwinding was much needed. (and I didn't think I had anything to write!?!) More pictures will be on facebook. But I figured I'd share some here too. That's it for today. Maybe more in a couple days. Time for lunch/breakfast/dinner.

Rochester & the Michigan Days

2010-10-28T00:52:00.001-04:00

So, after a great breakfast made by Theresa (eggs and toast), we got on the road for Rochester. While we were on the road, we found out we didn't have a show once again. But, through the magic of human kindness and a last ditch effort by Greg's amazing booking brains, we got to play at The Lovin' Cup. They let us take an hour before a local comedy competition took the stage. Our friend Liz sent some of her friends in the area our way with a care package and a bunch of love. The crowd was as warm and giving as the staff. Definitely love the Lovin' Cup. They sent us on the road with free nachos (NOM NOM NOM). We were in Rochester for 2 hours. Wanted to hang out but we needed to hit the road for Grand Rapids. So, we stopped to gas up and met a kid from western MA working at the gas station. He was so pumped to meet us that we left Rochester feeling totally unstoppable. We got into Grand Rapids at 5am and crashed.

We stayed with Greg's friend James Shotwell from www.underthegunreview.net and recorded a split EP we've dubbed Parachute(s) before we took off to Founders Brewery for the open mic. At the open mic it was 3 songs each. Since it was kind of a crazy crowd, Greg and I both played more up-tempo stuff. We got a great response and made some connections with local artists.

This morning we left Grand Rapids at 930. Eight short hours later we were in Houghton after some wild wind along the shores of Lake Michigan. A trailer almost blown off the road right if front of us puts it into perspective. 50mph gusts at least, I'm guessing. Through rain and snow, we drove and were pleasantly surprised by this city. Beautiful downtown. All red clay and red cobblestone. Classy and well-kept. Polite and proud, I'd say describes this state's people pretty well. I love it out here. 25 miles to get groceries? Sounds good to me. Means I'd shop smart and get real food instead of chips and icecream every time i hit the store.

Tonight's show at Cyberia Cafe blew me away. It started as if it were going to be a bust, attendance/attention-wise. But, as the night went on, more and more people came in and were drawn in by the music. Greg and I both played two sets. Greg joined me by drumming on his guitar and singing some harmonies for my second set. I lost count of how many CDs we sold. Plus t-shirts and a bracelet even. Houghton, you have been wonderful to us. Michigan in general has been so kind to us! Awesome.

Greg's been taking video and theres a ton of pictures. They will be on facebook as we find the time. That's it for now. Thank you Rochester & Michigan folks. We'll see you again soon, if i have my way.

Be flexible or be sad, mad and stupid

2010-10-25T09:52:00.000-04:00

After breakfast at a great polish place I've been to before and a rather calm afternoon of catching up online and making phonecalls and emails etc, we set off to Manhattan for the gig. We got all set up, settled in, and waited for the guy running the show to get there. Come to find out, we were double booked and totally brushed aside. So after a total downer moment, we packed up and decided to hunt for open mics. But we didn't take into account that the CMJ music festivities were this weekend, so everything was crazy in the city. Also no open mics. So we ended up in Union Square Park and played for the city instead. We had some people genuinely interested, handed out some cards and cds and talked. Some great pictures coming from that probably tonight.
My sister Theresa and her boyfriend Hugo have been AMAZING hosts. We stayed here two nights and they kept us fed and watered like you should with any stray animals.

Right now we have to pack up, gas up, find food and get on the road by 11. It's 6 hours to Rochester. Maybe more later?

Talk atcha later,
-dam

The Tour begins

2010-10-24T14:10:00.000-04:00

Good morning from Brooklyn.

I'm just waking up here and decided I should write now rather than later. First off let me say yes, I'm actually on a tour. I know. I don't believe it either, so pick up your jaw from the floor and let's move on!

Back to Friday night. The Snake Oil EP release with Sound in Stone and Speaker For The Dead. I literally finished putting the cds together at the show. And as I was putting them together I was selling them! (You guys are amazing.) It was great to see a row of tables covered in the physical representation of all our efforts. Greg has three CDs and t-shirts. Sound in Stone has tons of different shirts and two CDs. I've got three CDs and all my merch too. It's crazy how quickly these things come together.

Skip to the end. It's 330am and I'm just piling in the door at home and I realized there's a ticket on the car. It managed to make it home under the wiper and I didn't see it. I'm fighting this ticket when I get home. Stupid stupid bored policeperson.

6 hours later I was awake and packing and taking inventory and running around doing small errands to make sure everything was in order money-wise, and bills-wise. Then at 11:00 the news comes down. No transportation. First the "I knew something crappy was gonna happen" stuff started to cross my mind. Then the scramble to find something. anything. A bicycle with a Radio Flyer wagon dragging behind and all our crap piled on top. Greg, of course, would be sitting on the mountain of guitars and merch and I'd be pedaling for my life.

After a couple hours, my brother and sister-in-law come through with a great idea. I won't go into the details but Greg and I are now riding in styyyle. I believe it's basically a brand new Honda. So....we've got it made. Sleeping in this thing would be E-Z. Heated seats, people!

So by 3:30 we were on our way out of Worcester and by 6:40 we were at Goodbye Blue Monday! Wild wild wild mind trip. 'Is you is, or is you ain't my tour?!' The show last night was wild. Greg and I only had half our sets, but the bands and people that were there were attention and responsive. We didn't get to talk to the other bands much but they were fantastic! Me and My Arrow, Phantom Tails, and the guys from Fort Wilson Riot were the guys we met/saw.

We're crashing with my sister and at the moment are taking a break to restring guitars, cool off, and stop sweating long enough to go out and sweat some more. It gets gross when you're carrying too much around.

Tonight we're at the Sidewalk Cafe in Manhattan. 7pm. That's going to be and even bigger mind trip. Think "Jeff Buckley" and "old stomping grounds." It's a beautiful space and I can't wait to break out my guitar there. Tomorrow is Rochester. Then we're onto Michigan. That's enough for now, eh? See you around the web.

--dam

New EP on the way

2010-10-12T22:05:00.000-04:00

Though it's not the EP I intended, (due to computer issues beyond my control,) it's worthy of excitement and chatter! I won't reveal any details just yet, but I wanted to let everyone know that I am shooting to have this thing mixed, printed, and packaged for the tour kick off on Oct. 22. So if you're keen on getting this before I ride off in the tour van, you had better be there! It will definitely be available on iTunes, Amazon, etc. (probably in a month or so.) The tracks are still being mixed but as soon as I have the finals I will tell you more. That is all. Carry on!

--dam

Fall Tour Developments

2010-10-06T21:10:00.002-04:00

So without gilding the lily at all here I'm going to give you the rundown of the shows that are confirmed right now! Here goes:

10/22 - The Raven || Pleasant St Worcester, MA || 9pm $5 21+ and $7 18+
10/23 - Goodbye Blue Monday || 1087 Broadway St Brooklyn NY || 8pm Free All Ages
10/24 - Sidewalk Cafe || 94 Avenue A at 6th St NYC || 8pm $5 All Ages
10/25 - Greece Ridge Mall Hot Topic || 271 Greece Ridge Center Dr. Rochester, NY || 6pm Free All Ages
10/26 - Founders Brewing Company || 235 Grandville Ave SW Grand Rapids, MI || $5 7pm
10/27 - Keweenaw Brewing Company || 408 Shelden Ave Houghton, MI || $5 8pm
10/29 - Rhinos All Ages Club || 331 S Walnut St. Bloomington, IN ||$5 7pm
11/03 - House Show || Washington, DC || Free All Ages

When the other dates are confirmed I'll edit this post and share the new dates.... and I'll probably post the dates again anyway in another blog post. All these dates are with with Greg McKillop and his solo project called Speaker For The Dead. There were a couple names thrown out for this tour that I found entertaining. "Soothing Handsome Tour" and "Self Deprecatour."

I haven't called it anything yet, beside the "Fall Tour" because I don't want to jinx myself. Call it what you will, I'm excited to head out on the road with my songs. I've got stickers, T-shirts, DAM Bracelets, plus the second run of "Live at The Q" has come in! I've also got a bunch more copies of "demo for the solo listener"!! So much stuff. An actual merch table can be set up. Unbelievable.

Tomorrow night I'm playing at The Lucky Dog (link leads to FB event). The show starts at 830 and I should be up second! That's it for now. All business this time around! Too much to do and I'm sick and too tired to be funny tonight. I hope to see you tomorrow, feeling less sick and more entertaining. Goodnight webkidz.

Expect the Unexpected

2010-09-21T11:20:00.000-04:00

A few days after my last post a very short, very great conversation happened...

"Hey Dave, what are you up to next month?"
"Uh...not much. I've got a couple shows..."
"Wanna go on tour?"
"Sure!"
"Ok!"

And just like that, there's a tour being booked and the ideas start flying. Over the course of the last week and a half I've gotten T-shirts, Stickers, CDs, and made a pile of the denim DAM Bracelets I started selling last year. So from October 22 to November 5 I'll be on tour with Greg McKillop. When it's mostly confirmed, I'll post up the cities and dates. See you thursday!

Quiet Time

2010-09-07T11:10:00.000-04:00

If you haven't noticed, there have been only a handful of shows lately. That's planned. The original intent was to find a band, but I seem to be completely out of practice in that realm. I am not a "hey let's jam" kind of musician, though I have been known to be a part of spontaneous music making. Working with Shane Hall has been a good lesson in sliding into a groove and being part of a whole rather than trying to make all the sound myself with one guitar and my voice. As I've said on numerous occasions, I haven't been in a full band since high school. Now I feel like a goofy kid again with barely a notion of what I'm doing in a band.

So in these few months of quiet time, I've written an album's worth of material and played a few shows in Worcester. Having a day job detracts from my overall drive and ambition. I see friends that have long since left behind the daily grind to try to make the music work for them. I'm already poor though, so I can't picture paying bills and eating too. One or the other would happen. But as we roll into the fall, I have the itch and urge to get back on stages regularly. It's going to be a different approach. Mainly that approach is: Go somewhere beside Worcester.

So for the 5 of you reading this, it's been nice to step out of the flickering spotlight and evaluate my situation. Now it's time to stop wondering and get back out there. The band will still happen, just maybe not as quickly as it seemed it would. For now, I have to go put on a different hat and play in the land of customer service.

The Latest and Greatest

2010-08-29T00:40:00.000-04:00

I'm going to try to keep this short...

I've started working with my good friend Shane Hall, playing guitar and singing harmonies, in the new line-up for his band The TickleBomb Orchestra. These guys I'm working with are a blast and I'm learning every second we're playing. There's a couple dates coming up - September 4th for one, which is The Open Road Festival. (Follow the link to buy tickets.) I'll clue you in on facebook with the other dates when I've got them.

Also coming in September is my birthday. Now, I'm not big on birthday parties or presents. I've had plenty of that by now. I've decided instead to turn a show into a birthday bash. September 23, I'll be back at Beatnik's with The Smile Makers (and hopefully a couple surprise guests) to celebrate life. To make the event extra special, I'll be broadcasting the show online. So if you can't be there, you can enjoy interact with me and enjoy from home or where ever you are if your mobile device is capable. I'll post info as soon as the details are ironed out, but you can be sure we're going to have fun with this!

If you haven't noticed, I've also begun work on an animated short film. I'e already talked about it in a previous post, so I'll just share the link again to the project blog.

I think that's it for now. As always, there's more to come.
--dam

Animated Short Project

2010-08-15T19:51:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share the link to my secondary blog dedicated to the process and goings-on of the film project I've started with a few of my siblings. It's based on music I've written. I came up with a loose plot line and we're expanding from there in a collaborative effort to create something fantastic. It's explained better over here. And It Hurts: Film Project

Be sure to subscribe to both my blogs to keep up with whats going on and don't forget that Tuesday Aug. 17 is the last installment of the Live at Beatnik's video series on YouTube!

--dam

Live at Beatnik's: Set List

2010-08-07T14:58:00.001-04:00

The first six videos are available on Youtube and the hits keep coming! Thank you so much for the support. Here is a full setlist of the Beatnik's performance so you know what to look forward to plus the cover art for the whole concert!

1 - Nothing But Blessings
2 - Every Time It Rains (This Stone)
3 - It Kills
4 - Stay (new song!)
5 - Sideshow
6 - This Is The Life For Me
7 - Bite Your Tongue
8 - Made By My Own Hand
9 - Blow It Away (new song!)
10- I Was Saved
11- Rain Dogs (Tom Waits cover)
12- Snake Oil (new song!)
13- Encore: So Real (Jeff Buckley Cover)

(all artwork and editing is my handywork.)

YouTube, new EP, shows, and a band...

2010-08-07T14:47:00.000-04:00

YouTube: So we're half way through the Live at Beatnik's YouTube spectacle and I wanted to send a big thanks out to everyone for watching, enjoying, subscribing, and spreading the links around! There's 7 more videos on the way so check back on Tuesday for the next batch! mmm, tasty videos.

The new EP: Since last year, I've been working on this odd-ball recording/sampling project and I'm proud to say it's almost complete! The EP will be called "And It Hurts." It's based on a song I wrote in 2004ish which was about 6 1/2 minutes long. Thanks to a glitch in my audio software back in '09 when I was mixing 'demo for the solo listener', I started piecing together what is now 3 separate tracks totaling 15 minutes. It's very organic in the sense that it grew out of mistakes and glitches and chance to inform this fully realized orchestration. And throughout the tracks you can hear the influence Danny Elfman, Days of The New, and Tom Waits have had on my music.

When this EP is pressed, the goal is to include rare tracks that I haven't even heard in 5 years. They are songs from the same time frame as the original 'And It Hurts' so it seems fitting to include them. I may re-record a couple of them because the masters/originals are lost on crashed hard drives. But you can expect 4 to 7 tracks on the EP. I am shooting for a Winter release.

Shows: So I've got a couple shows coming up. Mark yer calendars, kids.

Thursday Aug. 12 at Beatnik's 8pm
Saturday Aug. 21 at Ralph's 9pm
Thursday Sept. 23 at Beatnik's 8pm (this is a Birthday show for yours truly!)

Also, I'm still trying to get a band in order. I'll let you know what the deal is with that as we move forward. See you Thursday!

--dam

DAM Newsletter : July 2010

2010-07-26T20:06:00.002-04:00

Hello everypeoples and welcome to another update for yours truly.

Thanks to everybody that came from near and far last thursday night. But if you missed that show, I've got something great coming up. Starting this Tuesday (July 27) I will be releasing three videos from the show at Beatnik's every week until the full show is available on Youtube. (4 videos the last week.) That's 13 videos - an entire dvd's worth of entertainment - for free! Once it's all online, you'll be able to watch it as a playlist.

If you want a copy of the show on your computer AND support the music financially, down the road you'll be able to purchase the concert for an ridiculously low price and get a digital copy. How much? You'll just have to wait and see. A full set list will be posted up tomorrow with the first three videos.

Here's the Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuhGvRtIQPo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming dates:

August 12 and September 23:
I will return to Beatnik's with The Smile Makers for two more very special nights.
Mark your calendars folks!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check back at davemagario.tk or my facebook page for all the latest. And now I leave you with a touching quote from a silly man:

"And that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like! uh-huh uh-huh."

--dam

It's been HOW long??!

2010-06-20T23:26:00.000-04:00

So yeah. I know it. It's been months! I got all caught up in playing shows and enjoying bouncing around the state that I forgot to update the blog! So let's recap the "Live at The Q" CD release and tour.

The short version: New CD = Very Yes!

Long version: I set out to record a live album. Check! I set out to sell enough CDs to raise money to donate to The Q Arts Corporation (Non-Profit Artist's Community). Check! I even managed to break even on the project and make a couple dollars. Across the months between the CD Release on January 26th and now, I've had some UH-mazing shows as well as the not so great nights where everything seems to be against me. I played with new bands and old friends and found some fantastic music to bring home on CDs and in my head. In the end it is safe to say that the project and the tour were both a great success. Mission = Awesome/Complete.

Again, I know it's been a long time and you all probably forgot about my website and my blog. But that's ok! There's only so much that can be done with internet tools before you have to go out and interact with the people and the fans and the venues. I'm not an avid blogger. And as much time as I might spend on my computer, I still have much to learn about these tools before me.

Now it is just about summertime and there are ZERO shows booked. Why, you may asked? Hopefully I will find musicians willing to get together and form a backing band for the strange sounds I dream of making. I've begun putting the call out (and here it is again.) to any Bassists, percussionists, strings-players,...horns...woodwinds...whatever you've got to share. We'll see if it works.

There's more I could write, but for now I wanted to do a short update/overview and remind you all: I'm still here and there's always more to come. Thanks to all you listeners and fans, new and old.

--dam

New Website

2010-01-17T11:20:00.002-05:00

Thanks to this amazing new service from FourFour.com, I'm able to create a brand new, clean, and informative website without have to start from scratch again! It's beautiful, it's sleek, and it's all mine. Muwahahahaha.In all seriousness though, I am excited about 2010. There is so much that can be accomplished. I only need to pick which projects I want to start and run with them. Live at The Q is only a couple weeks away! Plus more shows and more merch, if I can find the time to make more (D.A.M. Bracelets, that is.) So check back soon and don't forget - January 26 : NEW ALBUM!See you soon, friends.--dam

Live at The Q: The album is real & it's coming!

2009-12-30T23:30:00.004-05:00

Friends, Fans, Family, and Food-products,

Merry Happy, and Happy Merry! How was your holiday-type seasonal celebration? Mine turned out just fine. You know why? Good food with family and a quiet interlude slipping into the New Year's Eve celebrations. All the while I've been plotting the eventual release of Live at The Q.

It started as a silly attempt at testing my digital recorders abilities (with the help of my wonderful PC. That's right. I'm a Musician, and I'm a PC. hahaha. But I digest...) ... But what began as a half-hearted recording turned into a fully formed, realized dream. After FIVE separate recordings of shows and several other failed attempts, the very last one gave me some of the golden moments you'll hear on the album. I am so proud of this. So without further gilding the lily, as they say, here's the goods!

Dave Magario: Live at The Q
Release Date: January 26, 2010

Total Run-time: 63 minutes

01 - Is It Ever Too Late?
02 - Bite Your Tongue
03 - Talk - Thanks
04 - It Kills
05 - Old Trouble
06 - Do You Ever Think (What Might've Been)?
07 - Light and Shadow
08 - Talk - Play Track 6!
09 - Sideshow
10 - Talk - The Machine
11 - No One But You
12 - December
13 - Is Anyone Listening?
14 - Come See
15 - This Stone (Every Time It Rains)
16 - Talk - Blow Your Minds
17 - Nothing But Blessings
18 - Talk - One More, Hell Yeah!
19 - This Time*

So! That's it. It should be available on iTunes and 17 other sources just in time for my chosen release date. I am still working on the finer details but the physical copies but I promise to have copies for the shows in 2010! (side-thought: Check out the calendar of shows coming www.myspace.com/dmagario)

Many thanks to give for making this album come to be. And many more to come. But I'll start with my family for supporting and encouraging, my girlfriend for helping me make decisions and move forward, The Q Cafe: you let me record within your walls and I love you for it! (That's Emilie and Matt and the staff.) Then there's the musicians that helped make the last 3 months of shows beautiful - Matt Fox, Shane Hall, and Dusty Cobb, and many more on and off the stages. The rest of the love goes to you, the fans, ...and it's so much love!

Thank you all so much for making 2009 come to this beautiful end. We've lost some people to tragedies along the way, but we've gained friends and a greater love for life, art, and emotive creativity!

Here's the poster, please copy and post where ever you feel it will be seen. You can even go that step beyond awesome and print out some copies to plaster around Worcester, Boston, Providence, and where ever else people love music. (Everywhere!?!!) warning: These images are huge for quality's sake. Sorry if your connection is slow and I'm killing or blowing up your comuter!

Check Myspace for 2010 shows and follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/dmagario) for mini-updates and fun facts/observations.

Happy New Year,

--DAM

'Tis the season...for a new cd!

2009-12-03T22:01:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posting in the way of extending blogs. I've been keeping it to the micro-blogging through twitter (and everywhere else) but it's time for a monthly wrap-up (november, that is.)

November. Man, oh man. I managed to finally get some great audio at The Q gigs. This means the live album is going to be a reality, not just something I talk about for three months at gigs. Over the course of nearly 3 months, I recorded the bi-weekly shows at The Q Cafe. It happened to be a Friday the 13th that I managed to get what I was looking for. So, with the help of a few tracks taken from other gigs, this will be a 14 to 16 track album!

I've given myself a 2 week deadline to get the audio kinks worked out, album artwork designed and finished, and get it ready for the internet. I learned my lesson releasing the digital version of the 'demo for the solo listener' EP. It takes a month to get the music out to all the distributors. So, the goal is another mid-January release, both physical and digital, of "Dave Magario: Live at The Q" ...

So if I am laxed in responding to your emails, IMs, texts, or any other communication, this is why. In addition to working on the album, I've also been diligently advertising and trying to get you, the fans, involved in the work, too! While I'm on that - IF YOU WANT TO HELP and have not already begun to do so, please email me (dave.magario@gmail.com) to find out what you can do. There has been a HUGE influx of new fans in the last month. So thank you to that handful of you already doing your part!

Nextly...Have you noticed the new logo? It's not exactly new, its just never been seen until late October when I finally got a scanner/printer. So now there are stickers at shows. And as for those hand-made denim bracelets, I've only got two left that are finished. I have to go to a Salvation Army pretty soon and get some more jeans to tear up and reshape.

So that's a pretty concise summary of the last month or so. December's already whizzing by and I've got a lot to do! There's a few shows coming up and then its the new year! holy crap, right? Don't stress over the holidays, friends. I don't want you spending money you don't have because you're "supposed to." Do something nice for those you love. Remember what it's all about. Celebrate life and family and the freedom to do so.

Be safe!
--dam
___________________________________________________________
Head over to reverbnation.com/davemagario to join the mailing list and street team!

The EP : Digital Distribution

2009-10-28T16:42:00.005-04:00

That's right people, 'demo for the solo listener' will be available soon for digital download from iTunes (USA, Australia/NZ, Canada, Japan), as well as Rhapsody, Napster, and Amazon. I will let you know as soon as it it officially available. There's a new album cover designed for this release (you'll see that soon too.) So keep your eyes open for news about this and that and everything!

As some of you know, I've been recording some of my shows. The end goal is to have a live album to release before the end of the year. Hopefully I will have the help of a friend or two with the mastering and finalization of the mp3s. Then, as with the EP, you'll be able to get physical and digital versions, but they will be released simultaneously, (if all goes according to plan.)

So that's some pretty big stuff right there. Follow me on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook and Myspace to keep tabs on whats going on. Or follow this blog via an RSS Feed. You know. Tons of nerdy ways to keep in touch. You love it.

See you Friday night at The Q in Worcester!

--dam

Live at The Q...album or junk?

2009-10-17T12:44:00.004-04:00

Well well. I've listened to the recording of the show and wound up with 17 tracks adding up to just about 72 minutes. Almost like I knew what I was doing. And that is without the chatting and screwing around. If I kept that stuff, this would be too long for one CD. That being said, I am trying to decide if I want to use all the tracks or whittle it down to the best of it. There's definitely room for the entire 17 tracks on a cd. It comes down to my quality control and sometimes over-critical ears.

Perhaps I will record the next show on the 30th and shape a record from that? It's good to have something to work on, regardless of my decision.

Oh yes....Don't forget to follow me on Twitter where you'll get mini versions on blog-type thoughts. As if you didn't know....I'm the one who's behind the times on this one. Time for family stuff. See you all on the 23rd at Lucky Dog.

--dam

testing testing...

2009-10-10T19:08:00.002-04:00

So I am trying to connect this blog to Facebook and Myspace with different applications within both networking websites, but I'm having trouble getting things off the ground. But having Myspace, Facebook, iLike, Twitter, and Blogger all connected means less individual updates and time spent wisely. So...hang in there while I figure this out.

Oh yeah -and if you hadn't noticed, the website I had at 'davemagario.tk' crashed and the host I had would not help me so the link redirects to myspace so I can retain rights to the address.

Ok. The end.

The Website Moved...

2009-06-09T23:08:00.003-04:00

...and I bet you didn't know!

The server I was on before wasn't working anymore so I moved my hosting over to a better cheap-as-free service. If the mp3s aren't working yet, don't fret. They will be back in a few days (still getting used to how they do things at my new web-home.)

Speaking of mp3s, right now you can hear the whole 'demo for the solo listener' EP on myspace plus the extra track that's been sneaking into newer copies of the disc. Check it out if you haven't heard it yet!

Keep your eyes open for an article coming up in the July edition of Pulse Magazine. Plus keeps your ears primed for some snippets of weird recordings and maybe some more gigs.

I'm still working on this epic three-part composition. I still don't know where to go with the final piece. It's in there though, waiting to make sense. I've also started tinkering with some really really old piano compositions that fell by the wayside while I learned to bash on my guitar for the last 6 years. Time to put it all back together, right?

More to come...

Update: The last month

2009-04-30T23:38:00.003-04:00

So it's been a roller coaster couple months. Shows coming and going. CDs flying everywhere. A veritable whirlwind of work, shows, life, and everything in between. And I have barely kept up with it. But this saturday is the last show I have booked right now and probably a much needed break to refocus and get some more recording done. (need to finish a particular project that I've been neglecting!)

This month has also been very difficult. It has been just over a year now since my nephew died of complications from chemo-therapy. He was actually cancer-free when he died. But his body could not cope with the aftermath. Remembering him is the greatest and most difficult thing I have experienced emotionally. It's hard to remember the hilarious moments when I was there for his last. But I do remember the beautiful things that surrounded him and his brilliant wit all his own.

I played a benefit concert for the Relay For Life foundation this passed Saturday. I was emotional and I played my heart out thinking of him and hoping I was honoring him with my few songs and my voice. It was a great event and I will continue to support the Cameron family and the rest of the amazing people involved.

So that's the lowdown. I wish the best for you all this spring of 2009. See you in a couple days.

I survived the epic day/night

2009-03-21T12:54:00.002-04:00

Wow. Yesterday was a test of endurance. Long, long day.

After a manic shift at work, I rushed around to prepare for the evening of music. My day started at 8am and went until 3am. Dag yo. At the Q, I played 2 1/2 hours for a small and wonderful audience with new faces and new perspectives. Then I packed up and hauled over to Ralph's Diner for another set. Which actually started at 1220. I played for an hour, with a few bits of "Rocky Horror" and other random snippets that people were shouting out requests for. Again, new faces and perspectives in the audience. Traphiq was fan-freaking-tasticly solid, entertaining, and in their element, all cozy and happy to be in a rock venue instead of acoustic in a cafe. I wrapped up with a slower, downer song (aren't they all downers?) but it seemed perfect looking back over the whole night.

Thanks to everyone, new and old (to me). You all listened and enjoyed. I appreciate emensely. Oh, and it looks like I need to start making more bracelets and CDs - I've nearly run out!

And onward we go.

I'll leave you with this quote:

"Argue for your limitations,
and sure enough, they're yours."
('Illusions' by Richard Bach)

March & April Shows

2009-03-05T00:59:00.006-05:00

There are a bunch of shows coming in March and April and more waiting beyond that. So check out the schedule, find a show, and try one on for size. There are all ages events as well as 21+. Check the venues for their rules on this matter as I cannot set individual preference at most venues. Obviously most bars will be 18+ or 21+ with a few exceptions.

I'll be returning to Brooklyn, NY for a couple days as well as heading back to CT for a show with some guys I haven't seen in about a year. Plus I'm playing some venues I haven't played in a few years around Worcester! So it's a busy calendar (for me!) and I'm excited to bring the new songs to new crowds.

Did you all enjoyed the free downloads? They were up for about a week so I hope you got a chance to grab them. It's not the only time you'll be able to snag a free track or two, so keep your eyes trained for that word 'Free!" I've gotten some awesome and very helpful feedback about the CDs and the performances from many of you at shows and through myspace, facebook, etc. I appreciate all the time you share with me and the music.

Here comes the Spring! I am beyond ready for April showers that bring May flowers.

Now on Facebook and iLike!

2009-02-13T11:03:00.001-05:00

If you've got facebook, check out the link on my profile. Also, if you like to have applications on facebook, there is a great mp3/performance/etc app. called iLike from ilike.com. Now you've got about five ways to find out where I'm playing and hear my music! Brilliant!

Those mp3s are still up for grabs too on Myspace! (details for the downloads are in my profile.)

Go on and steal my music!

Two Free mp3s @ Myspace

2009-02-12T00:17:00.004-05:00

I've made two tracks available for download at Myspace! "Come See" from the demo for the solo listener EP as well as my brand new song "Bite Your Tongue" - These will both be available for a limited time. I hope you enjoy them.

____________________________________________

Apart from amazing turn outs at shows, selling all my copies of the EP, and recovering from the sinus-plague that has been attacking everyone this season, I have been continuing to write and work on several ideas at once. Maybe not the best plan of attack, but when the words or music come to you, you listen and go with it.

I have been working on loosening up my improvisational skills as well. Pulling myself out of the formulaic melody-writing that I think I accidentally found and looking to spontaneity as a means to writing. 2009 is about growth and exploration. It's already been an amazing year for both.

As always, more to come, and more and more.

Check out those mp3s! They are for you!

Much appreciation,
DAM

The EP / The latest...

2009-01-18T12:02:00.003-05:00

The new EP is here! Yeah, I know, I didn't tell anyone it was coming. It came together really quickly, so quick in fact, that I didn't really have any spare time to hype it. But that's ok! I've got the rest of the year to talk about this, and several other records that I have planned. Lots of ideas have been bouncing around the last couple weeks. But I digest...Back to the news.

The 'demo for the solo listener' EP was officially unofficially released Jan 16th. The track listing can be found over in the For Sale section. 6 new songs. The story behind it more emotion and images than any story I can tell you 'round a campfire. There is a sadness and a longing, but resolution and forgiveness as well. It is a window into the writing I've been exploring, hinting at a broader spectrum of ideas and possibilities. What I do next is completely unknown, but when I get there, I'll know what I have to do and how I want to lay it out for your ears.

Copies of this demo will be limited for now as I am labeling and burning the discs myself with my amazing HP Media Center. (plug plug plug) In the future, I am hoping to find a better means of self-production of the cds but for now, though time consuming, this works beautifully...and cheaply.

Thank you for the HUGE turn out at The Q. I estimate that there were about 100 people that came and went through out the entire night that listened for at least 20 minutes. 10 people in that space can feel like a crowd and there were probably 40 at any given time! You guys are awesome! Thank you for the hush, and the attention, and the applause.

TONIGHT you will be able to catch me again. I am still playing though the snow has been falling all day. 7PM to 10PM! Bring your mittens and your scarves and big snow shoes and lets get into The Q again for some cocoa and music. See you all soon.

Happy Sunday,
Dave

Merry 2009

2009-01-03T23:00:00.003-05:00

So it's the new year, yeah? Yes. My feelings on this are a mixed bag. Several parts psyched, a couple parts scared, and one part cynical, (per square inch...or something.) I have a lot I'm trying to do, though I'm not sure what the half of it all really is or means. I'm simply doing something and that's how it should be. The shows I play early this year are fleshing out songs and ideas and a means of ventilation of 2008's various emotional extremities. But they are as much for you as they are for me. I have had so much positive energy directed at me. Compliments, comments, ideas, motivation - energy - all driving me forward. So to give back, I play and share and sing my heart out. Thank you for all your support last year through the hardest and strangest days of my life so far. I don't know what I'd be without some sort of shoulder to collapse on now and then, or ears to talk to until I make sense of my inner dialogue.

I'm looking forward to a great year, though still looking backward to the loss and the confusion. The only way to honor someone's memory is to live this life I have to the best of my abilities. Leave nothing undone or untried. Live. Don't wallow. Ask questions, sure. Why, How, If... But don't stew in thought without giving it your all.

Happy New Year friends. I wish you the best memories and the greatest adventures.

Overflowing with love,
d.a.m.

NYC - Part 2

2008-12-23T22:56:00.004-05:00

The first blog was focusing on just Thursday. Here's highlights of the rest...

Friday: here was a lot of subway-riding and blocks and blocks of walking in snow and sleet and puddles and muck while trying to get to the MET. We paid 25 cents each to get in! (Tip: You have to mention the "suggested donation" option and you can give whatever you can afford.) The featured collection that we found ourselves in was "Art and Love in Renaissance Italy." Some of the work was shockingly direct in its sexuality. Others were betrothal stories told on one canvas or simple nude portraits/figures. Also lots of pieces for birth ceremonies and weddings. It's a far cry from the Puritanical mentality we are still trying to escape today. Beauty was recognized and appreciated. But then again it could have been as it is now, in most cases - a means to display the artists' lust. There is more pornography than there is art today. That's a simple fact...

...meanwhile, in the city: ah...where was I. Yes. Lots of walking in the museum with numb, soaked feet in soggy boots and drippy socks. I suffered for the art, man! Then we headed back to Brooklyn but not before we jack-knifed ever so slowly into a curb in one of those double-long buses with the accordion connector in the middle. ...more walking... AAAAND sleep.

Saturday, I spent the entire day indoors. I started to get very sick, probably from exhaustion and the numb feet the night before. So with lots of vitamins, tea, Airborne, and rest, I managed to fight it off. All the while, I worked on a song and wrote you that last blog.

Sunday was great, though a late start to the day. We ate at this grocery/cafe/restaurant called Urban Rustic. Their motto is "Farm to Market." AWESOME quesadilla. If you are ever in Williamsburg and want a tasty simple meal, check it out.

After food, it was off to Pete's Candy Store where a Presbyterian church service was being held (before the open mic.) Let me remind you that Pete's is a bar. Picture a room the size of a subway car with a wannabe Tom Waits (an overdressed white guy) and a young, hipster-looking, pierced, shaggy-haired man "preaching" about Christmas. Presby's aren't afraid to knock back a couple drinks, so after putting that together, a church group meeting in a bar made sense. they piled out into the bar and the open-mikers spilled into the back room and waited. I played first. two songs. "It Kills" and "Light and Shadow" with a supportive response from everyone in the room. (mostly musicians.) I would gladly go back to play there.

They my sister and I said our regretful goodbyes and trekked to the Bronx for her art show. They made me play a half hour set to break up the evening and loosen everyone up (lots of wine going around.) There were 5 or 6 artists showing work while people came and went, checking out the art, buying a piece or two or... not. Basically, I met a ton of people. Handed out a lot of cards and traded myspace links with a bunch of others. It was a great way to end the search for a place to play. I'm sure I'll be making several trips back to play (some gig opportunities are already hatching).

Mix in a vomiting drunk, a blind beggar, subway performers, and nearly getting hit by a bus and that was New York, this time around.

Glad glad glad,
Dave

Greetings from NYC

2008-12-20T14:43:00.004-05:00

I'm in a red room (Upstairs, Red Room) with original art on the walls. A 6 x 6 canvas with a half finished pen/pencil/charcoal piece. Little scraps of ideas everywhere. I've got the apartment to myself while my sister and her friend hang some of their art in a gallery in the Bronx. So, I'm alone in the city...and I'm writing. I am actually taking a break from the lyrics to write this entry and expound a little on the goings-on of the last couple days.

The first thing that pops into mind is breakfast two mornings ago. We had gone to a wonderful little Polish cafe for some real breakfast (scrambled eggs, kielbasa, toast, homefries, coffee - all local products,) and someone got me started on Jeff Buckley. So after rambling like I do about details and curiosities and the Glen Hansard interview I heard filling in this little piece of history, the man that had been sitting behind me to my right stands up, gathers his things and pauses to say something to the effect of 'I heard you talking about Jeff Buckley and Nusrat (Fateh Ali Khan). I just wanted to say I knew him. I was at the Sin-e recording and I shouted out "Play some Nasrat" and he corrected me, "It's Nusrat." That was my voice. He was a good guy.' He said a quick goodbye and that was that. Only in New York City can these things happen so casually.

So far, I haven't gotten to play anywhere but in the apartment. All the information about open mics has been out of date or just plain wrong. So I lugged my guitar around Thursday night finding clubs and bars and getting info and making connections for future treks to the city instead of playing. It was still a good night. Caught a jazz Trio at Stain. Ate a decent burger and fries at Comic Burger on Grand. But everything here is at least a dollar more expensive than back home, so I'm watching what I spend!

So much to be distracted by that it all becomes influence and inspiration. Back to this song. see you in a few days, Massachusetts.

Deer-smasher

2008-12-14T01:56:00.000-05:00

I hit a deer on the highway tonight - hit it's head as it tried to cross the highway from the median. So I'm updating my website while trying to shake it off. For now, that's it. A short note. A sad note.

Demo tracks y mas

2008-12-07T20:39:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone. I've posted two new tracks. Most of you have never heard. These are just demo tracks, but I felt it necessarily to keep things fresh! Let me know what you think. Add them to your profile...whatever you want.

Also in the news, I'm building a website which should be in working order by the end of the week. It will be home to more music, lyrics, poetry, art, photos, and anything else I want to share with the world.

Plus, I'm making denim bracelets! Each of them is different with a lot of time and finger-pricking involved. I bleed for my art, man! You'll be able to get those at shows, and online (when I have enough made.)

Thanks to everyone who has recently joined me on this profile. Friends, family, fans and strangers - whichever you are, your attention and time are appriciated.

The new year is coming and the new year must rule! I'll see you around, lovelies.

--dave

Happy Birthday J.B.

2008-11-18T11:17:00.002-05:00

Today is Jeff's 42ndthst birthday. This is a short bit of lyrics from a song I wrote two years ago for Buckley's birthday...

"Birthday Prayer"

...Tonight I look to the past
To all the actions that led to the devistating halt
To futures all unseen, unclear
I'm certain we'll be right here
It's not your fault

You, my love, are allowed to leave behind
So many uncounted reasons to smile, and cry, and love
You, my love, are life after death
You, my love, are a lifetime spent in passion's waking breath...
_______________________________________________

Some people may find my obsession with Jeff Buckley's music and life to be somewhat ridiculous. But the fact of the matter is, his music, perspective on life, and determination to create his art regardless of the outcome inspired me to not give up on life itself. He continues to inspire me as I come across bootlegs of concerts from around the world. His voice reaches depths and heights, emotionally, that are not heard in his studio work. The raw improvisations are too much to take in from one listening. Hence the constant inspiration after years of listening.

I thought I might stop being so focused and mesmerized by his work but it doesn't seem to be possible. My words don't do justice to the immensity that is my gratefulness for his ever having lived on this earth. Even if I missed him by almost a decade. Here's to Jeff. Go listen to his work at myspace.com/jeffbuckley or over at his official website's "radio" widget. jeffbuckley.com/prt/prt.html

Thanks for reading this far.